Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association

The South Eastern Distance Riders Association (SEDRA) is a regional, non-profit competitive distance riding and driving organization in the South Eastern United States. SEDRA is a sole sanctioning organization for competitive trail rides and competitive trail drives and sanctions endurance rides in conjunction with the American Endurance Ride Conference and the Southeast Endurance Riders Association. We promote all the distance riding and driving sports, encourage better care of distance horses, assist ride managers in producing quality competitions, keep track of accomplishment of our members and provide educational clinic featuring some of the best equine sports vets in the United States.

Distance riders pride themselves on proper horsemanship and proper care, training and conditioning of their horses. Our horses compete successfully into the late teens and many into the mid twenties. The Tennessee Walking horse is a great breed of horse. It is a proud horse and a wonderful trail mount. The Walking horse makes a good distance horse. Many of our members own and compete on Tennessee Walking Horses. There are many examples of Walking horses that have excelled in distance riding, but two come readily to mind.

The Florida Three Day 100 is one of the oldest competitive trail rides in the country, celebrating its 49'th running this spring. The three day 100 mile competitive trail ride is patterned after the cavalry test used by the US Army to select its horses. It is a true test of the horse's soundness and ability and the rider's horsemanship in caring for his mount. In 1992, the Walking Horse Sun's Smoky Delight won the prestigious Florida 3 Day 100 Mile competitive trail ride. In 1996 Walking Horse Mystic Storm qualified for and successfully completed the Race of Champions - the ultimate ride for any endurance horse - one day 100 mile endurance ride. Mystic Storm has also successfully completed 2000 competitive endurance miles.

It is with distress that we witness any abuse to any breed a horse. The abusive techniques still practiced- although against the law as specified by the Horse Protection Act - by some trainers of show Tennessee Walking Horses is unconscionable. It is with no reservation that SEDRA endorses the goals of Sound Horse Organization to promote the well being of the Tennessee Walking Horse.

Truman W. Prevatt
Ride Secretary,
South Eastern Distance Riders Association