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Julie Suhr owns Peruvian Paso horses, one of the oldest breeds on earth; and she uses them in ways that were once unthinkable. In the process, she has pioneered a very non-traditional activity for a very traditional horse. Fans of the Peruvian declare it the smoothest riding horse on earth as well as the most eye-catching. Years ago, no one dreamed they had the incredible endurance that Julie discovered in them.
Julie lives in Scott’s Valley, California. For over thirty years, she’s been involved in endurance racing, which may be the most demanding of all equine competitions. The sport features cross country races, which by definition must be at least fifty miles in length. Most people in the sport refer to the events as rides -- not races; but make no mistake about it … the most-coveted prize goes to the first finisher. When endurance riding began, there was doubt a horse could go a hundred miles in twenty-four hours. Now that distance has been covered in less than ten!
The first person to use Peruvian Pasos for this sport, Julie has been involved thirty-five years and has had more than her share of recognition. Her greatest successes have come on Arabians, which have carried Julie when she won her three Haggin Cups at the Western States One Hundred Mile in One Day Ride, popularly known as the Tevis Cup. The Haggin Cup is given to the horse among the top ten finishers which is judged to be in the best condition, and no one has as many as Julie.
Julie will tell you that the Arabian is the breed that dominates this sport, and her big wins have usually come on Arabians. However, she has used two Peruvian Pasos during her endurance-racing career. An imported mare named *Marinera was the first. Back in the late 1960’s, *Marinera twice finished the 100 mile Tevis Cup Ride, in 22nd and 25th place, in years when over two hundred horses competed.
In those days, few people had heard of these exotic horses, much less seen them in action. At the pre-ride check before the 1966 Tevis Cup, one of veterinarians watched *Marinera’s flashy, energetic way of moving and told Julie, "You can start; but I can tell you one thing … she can’t possibly keep that up for a hundred miles."
"*Marinera made him eat his words," Julie remembers. "I’d give anything to have had the knowledge I have at this time. I could have done much, much better!"
*Marinera also finished 3rd and won the "Best Condition" trophy at the Castle Rock ride near Los Gatos, California, in 1969. That year, she defeated some of the biggest names in the sport. Years later, as an encore, Julie successfully finished the Convention 50 Ride in Nevada on *Marinera’s daughter, Carolana.
If you ask Julie to name the finest trail horse she’s ever ridden, she’ll tell you it’s the Peruvian Paso.
"I’ve had over 30 years experience with Peruvians as trail horses and have been involved with ten or so in that time. I think they’re the best trail horses in the world. They don’t stumble. They don’t shy. Of course, you can’t pick one with the exaggerated action."
Julie also points out that the mechanics of the breed’s gait are such that Peruvian horses are extraordinarily surefooted.
"I’ve never had one of my Peruvians fall with me," Julie will tell you, "and I can’t say the same about any other breed I’ve ridden. Peruvians not only carry you smoothly, but they take good care of you."
Julie’s favorite among her many horses was *Marinera -- her first Peruvian -- for whom her Marinera Ranch on Marinera Road was named. This extraordinary mare was imported from Peru in 1966. Most Peruvian horses -- including *Marinera -- come from Peru’s coastal desert, one of the world’s driest. As a result, they normally dislike being wet. *Marinera was just the opposite. Whenever she saw anyone using a garden hose, she’d walk into the stream of water and turn herself around and around until she was wet from head to toe to tail.
"I’ve have never respected an animal as much as I did her," Julie says. "Her first foal, now 25 years old, is still carrying me several times a week around the Santa Cruz Mountains."
Julie would like to see more Peruvian owners involved in endurance racing.
"I think *Marinera was an exceptional Peruvian from the point of view of endurance racing," Julie says, "but I also think there are more *Marineras out there, and I hope the lucky person who has one enjoys the breed as much as I have."
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