Photo credit Becky Pearman Photography

Photo credit Becky Pearman Photography

Photo credit Becky Pearman Photography

Board of Directors

President & Treasurer

Holly Corcoran, CPA has been a sole practitioner in public accounting since 1991 owning and managing her own firm until 2013 when she partnered with another local practitioner. Holly started riding before she could walk and had Morgan horses in her family until age 18. In her mid-30s she brought horses back into her life and this time it was Arabians. Initially she and her young children competed in the Arabian circuit and 4-H. Overtime, though, Holly started exploring endurance riding and in 2003 entered her first limited distance ride. She never looked back and now her favorite distance is 100-mile one day rides.

In 2008 with LD’s and a couple 50s under her belt, Holly read about the USA team competing in Malaysia and became fascinated with becoming a USA Endurance team member. At that time, she realized that she had several pieces to put in place which she did, and in 2014, 16 and 18 she had two of her horses qualify for the world championships. For the 2020 world championships, which were postponed to May 2021, Holly and her 14-year-old gelding, Poète, represent of the USA in Italy.

En route to International Riding Holly also competed in the 2011, 13 and 15 North American Endurance Team Challenges (NAETC). In 2015 she entered two horses with one being ridden by a young rider, Emily Heffner, and the Northeast team won the gold medal! Holly has 6500+ endurance miles with an 88% completion rate and has been riding FEI since 2011 with a 75% completion rate. She has attempted over 35 one-day 100 miles and completed 30 of them.

Holly has ridden endurance internationally in Brazil 2014 and Dubai 2018 as well as Italy 2021 with her heart-horse, Poete with whom she has had a wonderful career, winning two National Championships and earning AERC Decade Team in addition to competing FEI . Holly is passionate about the sport of endurance, improving her own knowledge and skills along with promoting and enhancing the sport. Holly served on the AERC-international committee from 2014 to 2022. After which Holly and fellow board members decided to formulate the not-for-profit USA Northeast Endurance, Inc. to help serve the needs of endurance in the Northeast area. She is excited to see team competitions becoming popular in the Northeast, as well as encouraging riders from other disciplines to attempt endurance, whether it is through introductory clinics, conditioning rides, CTRs or higher distances. Holly wants to see Endurance become a growing sports again in the US as it has been the fastest growing equestrian sport internationally over the last several years.

Currently, Holly serves as the president and treasurer for USA Northeast, Inc.

Vice President

Steven Hay became interested in horses as a young child, always wanting to visit his grandma who had Morgan horses. At the age of six years old, Steven started taking weekly riding lessons at a hunter jumper barn, which later progressed to spending every weekend trail riding.  His first horse was a small, stout, black Morgan horse, Eli. Steven and Eli, participated in 4-H and competed in local shows, but this didn’t fulfill their need for a challenge. In 2002 they ventured into the world of competitive trail riding with the Eastern Competitive Trail Riding Association (ECTRA) and AERC endurance in 2003, and Steven was hooked!

Over the past 20 years Steven has logged nearly 6,000 miles with the AERC in including 11 one-day 100-mile completions, and he has over 7,000 miles combined with ECTRA and AERC.  In 2009, Steven learned about the FEI young rider competition, which sparked his interest to add another challenge to his endurance career. In 2011, Steven was fortunate to team up with Natalie Muzzio, and her awesome horse Khalil Asam (aka Sammy), to compete in the North American Young Riders Championships.  Later that year, Steven and Sammy were chosen to represent the USA at the Junior and Young Riders World Championships in Abu Dhabi – the team placed bronze. Steven continued his involvement in FEI competitions competing at the North American Team Challenge in 2013, in addition to crewing at young rider world championship events in France and Chile.

Steven brings a unique perspective to the USA Northeast Endurance board, beginning in the sport as a junior, and growing up with parents who weren’t involved with horses, and had no extra money to spare. When he started in endurance, he had a goal of meeting as many people as possible in order to make connections in the endurance community to learn as much possible about the equine endurance athlete. He attributes his success in the sport to the enormously supportive endurance community with everyone wanting to see others succeed. He’s hoping his involvement with the USA Northeast Endurance organization can help him give back to the endurance community that he grew up with.

Secretary

Mary Howell

After reading about the Old Dominion 100 and Tevis in a book, Mary bought her Half-Arabian gelding, Count Shiloh, in 1995. She met Valerie Kanavy during a Virginia Horse Council event where Val received an award for her 1998 World Championship win, and Mary began competing in 1999. The next year, Shiloh and she finished their first 100 at Biltmore, followed by the Old Dominion 100. She was hooked!

Tom & Rita Swift helped Mary learn more about international endurance. She then passported Shiloh and qualified to represent USA East at the 2001 Pan American Championship in Vermont. Mary also qualified for the 2003 Pan Ams in Washington State, but gave up her spot due to closing on her first horse property.

In various roles as volunteer, crew or chef d’equipe, Mary attended the 2005 North American Endurance Team Challenge (NAETC) in MD, the 2011 NAETC in CA, 2013 NAETC in FL and 2015 NAETC in Ontario.     Mary also crewed at several North American Junior & Young Rider Championships in KY & provided  her passported mare Siena to several young riders, most recently Sarah Buckley of ME at the 2016 Young Riders Team Challenge in SC.

Mary participated in several USA Endurance Team selection events between 2006 and 2018, volunteering at the 2009 pre-ride/2010 World Championships in KY and 2018 pre-ride/World Championships in NC. Mary has also competed, helped manage and/or volunteered at several AERC National Championships, including 2005, 2008, 2010, 2015 and 2022.

As an AERC director from 2015-2019, Mary chaired the Membership Committee and was successful in having AERC formally adopt the Greenbean Program. After managing an FEI ride in 2013, Mary worked to become a licensed Endurance Judge and served as an official at numerous FEI rides between 2014 and 2021.

Mary has started under saddle several of her horses, including Siena, Canadian Chrome and BR Vashti, and have Decade Team status with Shiloh, Siena and Gryphon. Her nearly 13,000 AERC miles include a 2014 Tevis finish (best day of her life!) and sponsoring many juniors. Two of her greatest joys are witnessing the incredible performances of well-trained horses and their riders, and introducing the sport she loves to young riders.

Director

Dr. Heather Hoyns has had a lifelong interest in horses. As a teenager, she was an active 4-H member. As an active Endurance competitor, she has competed in AERC rides since the early 1980’s, having over 10,000 miles.  She also competed at the FEI level,

She has competitive experience in other equine disciplines, including Hunters, Combined Driving and Competitive Trail Riding. She is currently an AERC Control Veterinarian, an FEI Endurance Veterinarian, TD, Judge and Steward, and a n FEI Combined Driving Veterinarian.

She graduated with a BS in Animal Science from Cook College, Rutgers University, with a special interest in Nutrition, then going on to Cornell University, where she received her DVM degree in 1981. She practiced Equine Medicine in New Jersey for 5 years before relocating to Vermont in 1986.

In keeping with her mission to provide the best care for equine athletes Dr. Hoyns provides advanced Equine Dental, Acupuncture and Chiropractic care.

Dr. Hoyns is a member of the American Endurance Ride Conference, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association, Vermont Veterinary Medical Association, USEF, and the Green Mountain Horse Association.

Director

Holly MacDonald’s first experience with horses was in 1980 when her family moved down the street from the farm she now owns. Holly wanted a job, so she rode her bike around the corner to the farm.  Jackie Weaver owned the farm, and she was a trailblazing woman and founding member of the NJTRA.  Through her, Holly was introduced to horses, the sport of endurance, and competitive trail, all of which she still loves today.  Holly worked all the time to earn more time in the saddle and lessons, and when the NJ100 Competitive Trail Ride was hosted at the farm, she got my first taste of distance riding.   

Later, she and husband Hugh purchased Mrs. Weaver’s farm, where they still live today and where they raised our sons, Everett and Finn.  Holly also joined the NJTRA and has been involved in a variety of ways for over 35 years.  She feels blessed that the farm is next to Wharton State Forest, where NJTRA runs a few of its rides.  When they were young, they didn’t have a horse trailer so this is where she could ride to easily.   

Now, however, Holly is able travel to such beautiful places for endurance, and that is one of the best parts about the sport.  The little back roads and stops along the way are wonderful, and she has been fortunate to crew for folks riding at the top level of the sport.  Holly has traveled with lovely people and heard the best stories.  One of her favorite memories was riding the Biltmore 100 3-Day and winning Best Trail Horse with her amazing Morgan, Killarney.  This was back when riders had to have their entries in very early or they were not getting in! She was up against the best of the best in the sport. 

When Holly was young, she was encouraged by seasoned participants in the sport, and so she tries her best to encourage and welcome junior competitors and newcomers.  Holly has had at least 3 juniors grow through the ranks of the sport riding and working at her farm, one of whom grew from a beginner in the sport to being listed for a world game!  It was huge for her to be able to watch the hard work and success of this young lady, and fun to be a part of it! 

Holly is not the only one encouraging newcomers, though, as the endurance vet group is amazing.  Whether someone is riding or volunteering, if they want to ask a question, they will have a vet listen and answer.  If the vet is not an expert in that field, they’ll suggest another vet in the group who is.  Everyone must start somewhere, and Holly and her vets and volunteers do a great job supporting the sport. 

Every rider from every other discipline could benefit by getting outside the arena and trying endurance and competitive trail! Any age group can participate on a level playing field, and there is a distance for all.  A little time on the trail does wonders!  In the two rides that Holly manages, the Foxcatcher (Fair Hill, MD) and the Mustang Memorial (Shamong, NJ) they make a point to offer distances that are accessible to everyone, from riders just dipping their toes into trail riding or 100 milers at the highest level of the sport. 

Outside of the horse world, Holly’s “real” job (on top of farm ownership and ride manager!) is a flight attendant.  There, it’s her role to make everyone feel safe and welcome, and she wants everyone to feel the same way when they participate in one of the rides she manages.  Holly always tells people it takes a village to run an endurance ride.  Without folks on every level, the sport as we know it wouldn’t be possible.  Beginner, expert, rider, volunteer, or anywhere in between, there’s a place for everyone in endurance!