It was a staple on the sporting schedule for years and horse racing is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. And while in America it’s called the sport of kings, in Belize, it’s the country folk who keep the sport alive. In Cayo, it’s more than a tradition, it’s a passion, and this weekend we witnessed an off-road horse race unlike anything we’d ever seen. 7NEWS was there from start to finish and Keith Swift has the story.

Keith Swift Reporting,
With the command to go – the 11 riders were off on the 24 mile Hanna’s Endurance Challenge.

Rodolfo Juan, Organizer
“Today we’re going to select who is really the toughest rider in this country. We are having an endurance race which is a test over 25 miles of horse and rider and it selects really who will be the toughest rider in the land.”

And though they set off at lightning speed, the winner would be decided not on speed – but on endurance. That endurance was tested in 8 three mile laps up hills and down valleys on the sprawling but rugged and difficult terrain of the Juan family’s 400 acre ranch in Cayo.

Santiago Juan, Organizer
“The goal of the race is to get the horse and the rider to learn about each other, to pace yourselves, it is not only about speed – it is about knowing your horse, knowing what to do and when to do it and that’s what endurance racing is all about.”

The riders spent months on horsebacks preparing for the race but it takes more than just knowing how to ride a horse to win. You need to know how to manoeuvre a horse like this through rough jungle terrain. These riders have to know their horses.

Rodolfo Juan,
“It is really about knowing your horse and knowing how to pace the horse. As you can see it is a very warm hot sunny day, it is 25 miles, that is a lot of distance to cover and therefore you need to know how to pace your horse so that you don’t push it too much, otherwise you will just exhaust the horse or you risk injuring the horse.”

A difficult balancing act - and that’s why on his fourth lap when Cesar Shi heard this:

[Horse Breathing Heavy]

He pulled his horse Ralph, the defending champ, out of the race – at least for a while.

Cesar Shi, Participant
“I am just giving him a little rest so I don’t want to pressure him too much because it is too hot right now so I just try to take care of the horses so we will see what he will do after this.”

Keith Swift,
Will you re-enter the race?

Cesar Shi,
“I am still going to go in it. It is really tough and you have to know what you are doing and it is tough for your horses so you have to really see what is going on with your horses because if you pressure them too much, you will do something to them because it is too hot right now so you have to really take care of the animals.”

There were also trying moments for Teri Dobson and her horse in the fourth lap. She ended up walking him and then washing him in a nearby creek, also vowing to re-enter the race.

Keith Swift,
You look defeated.

Teri Dobson, Participant
“No not yet, not beaten yet.”

But neither Teri nor Cesar was first at the finish line. It was Isiasis Mortalla and David Smalls, both from Windy Hills. At first they were in no hurry to cross – but eventually they did – in a photo finish. After there was no time to celebrate – at least not yet. They immediately began cooling down Prince and Sparrow, in an attempt to reduce their heart rates to 71 – the magic number which would determine the winner.

David Smalls, 2nd place
“This is based on a heart rate monitor so we gave the horses more time to recoup we would get a better number whenever they check the horse’s heart rate.”

Keith Swift,
Did you like the experience?

David Smalls,
“Very much because it has a jungle feel and you get different challenges when other guys come and challenge you. The race is about challenges so I like it.”

Isaias Moratalia, 1st place
“It is very adventurous, you bump into trees, you almost fall off the horse, you have to be good at riding or else you won’t complete the race period.”

16 year old Stephan Hyde from Banana Bank rode in on “Forest Gump” and finished 3rd. While rodeo veteran Alison Coye finished 4th.

Keith Swift,
How was the race?

Stephan Hyde, 3rd place
“Good. It was my first time. It wasn’t hard.”

Alison Coye, 4th place
“The race was a little fast and I wish the guys had think earlier and slow down the race. It would help the horses a lot. The heat was too high for the horses. I wish they pick a calmer and cooler day for the horses.”

And like Alison Coye – Cesar Shi and Ralph didn’t win this year but all wasn’t lost. He won something else.

Keith Swift,
Are you closer to Ralph having been through this?

Cesar Shi,
“Yes, my horse is a nice guy and I like him.”

Rodolfo Juan,
“Out here in the west, horse riding is part of our heritage. We used it with the chicleros, we used to take the supplies off into the jungle, you know the cowboys are still very much a part of our way of life, especially in the beef sector. So this is part of our heritage and we are really kind of celebrating that.”

And part of that celebration is the bond between a man and his horse – through the toughest and roughest of times and terrain.

First place finisher Isaiais Moratalia won $500 while David Smalls who finished second got $300. 16 year old Stephan Hyde who finished third got $200. Allyson Coye in 4th got $100.