2021 AERC Convention Notes: Nick Warhol on What Makes a Great Endurance Horse, and How Do You Get One?

​You know Nick Warhol, right? Over 13,000 miles in 13 years of endurance, 30-plus 100-milers, ride manager, former AERC board member, and storyteller. Yeah, you know the guy. His talk at the 2021 AERC Convention was worth the price of admission. (You can still access all the Convention sessions through the end of March!)

Warhol began with a disclaimer: All opinions are his and could be argued by others.

I reckon that’s true of anyone trying to sort out what makes a great endurance horse. We all agree on good feet, correct conformation, and all that…but Warhol’s focus went more than bone deep: His #1 most important trait for an endurance horse: its mind.

Warhol listed a variety of mental attributes of a good endurance horse, noting that some are trainable, and others are not. Here’s his list:

• Stands still for saddling
• Loads and hauls without drama
• Will drink through the trailer window when traveling (Interesting. I have never tried this.)
• Camps calmly, including eating and drinking in new environments
• Can be mounted and walked out on a loose rein at the start

“You can train a horse’s behavior, but you cannot change his personality.”

~ Nick Warhol

• Doesn’t mind being alone and will work without other horses to motivate him
• Loves to be in front but doesn’t mind following
• Forward but not stupid
• Calm trot
• Loves to climb hills
• Not spooky

This is about the point where Warhol began spinning stories. Those were the best part, but you simply have to hear them in his voice. I’ll just capture his practical points here.

“You want a horse
​that needs brakes,
not a gas pedal.”

~Nick Warhol

Warhol emphasized the importance of a horse being forward, but still in control. I completely agree; there’s nothing worse than having to “pedal” a horse along 50 miles of trail! If he doesn’t enjoy the job, he needs a different job and you need a different horse.

Spooking (the phantom type, not the occasional honest spook) is problematic and even dangerous. Warhol said that, in his experience, spooky behavior is best addressed through relationship rather than training.
 
Okay, I can’t resist. I’ll pass along one story:
 
Warhol had a gorgeous, talented mare. She was fabulous, but he clung on as he rode her, afraid of hitting the dirt (again) on one of her dramatic spooks.
 
A friend finally advised, “Don’t ride her like she’s gonna spook. Ride her like she’s not!”

So, Warhol forced himself to relax and ride the mare as if she were his steady gelding. Breathe. Don’t clamp legs or butt. Reduce contact on the bit. Sing. Keep pretending you’re on a horse you trust.

And, it worked. Relaxing himself relaxed the mare and brought out the best in her.

Warhol also talked a bit about the challenge of shopping for a good brain. He suggested that shoppers: 

“You’re not going to change a horse’s feelings and opinions by force. You have
​to connect and communicate.”

~ Nick Warhol

• Rely on references and referrals when possible
• Trust your gut instinct (and know that it’ll improve with practice)
• Ask the owner to ride the horse first, while you observe

 
He added that no matter what horse you buy, it’s possible her personality and mindset will change when you start doing endurance. Your unicorn could turn into a dragon at the starting line. It is, quite literally, the nature of the beast.

When asked how to prevent race brain, Warhol answered like a card-carrying member of what I call the I Choose Life Club: “Go ahead and get off until they calm down. When the frenzy stops, get back on.” Cheers, Mr. Warhol.

“When you really know each other, you both know what the other partner is going to do.”

~ Nick Warhol

He noted that while it’s possible to buy a turnkey horse – a seasoned endurance campaigner – doing so sacrifices the invaluable experience of building your own partner.

​By bringing along your own horse, you can be confident that his conditioning schedule was appropriate. Not only that, you get the bonding that can only come through time. ​

Of all the talks during Convention, this one resonated with me the most. I’m currently searching for my next "perfect" endurance horse. No, I’m not shopping. I’m assessing a couple mares that are already in my pasture. 
 
Neither is perfect, but they both have so many strong points. Some of their weaknesses can be trained away. Some of their strengths may evaporate under the pressure of an event. Only time will tell.
 
I’m working with the pair of them. Listening, watching, asking questions. Where do they shine? What imperfections can I live with? Are the good things about each horse good enough to make up for the bad ones? 
 
Here's the thing: Those mares are watching me, too. They're reacting to my strengths and weaknesses. The difference is that they don’t have a choice. They’re stuck with me. So I’d damn well better give them my very best.

You might also like:
​
Dr. Stephanie Seheult on How Your Body Works with your Horse
Dr. Langdon Fielding on Electrolyte Problems in Endurance Horses
Dr. Melissa Ribley on Riding in Different Conditions

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