Meet Sponsored Rider:
Stevie Delahunt

Riding Warehouse has the honor of sponsoring Stephanie Delahunt, aka Stevie, an avid endurance rider and equine enthusiast. Our RW crew has so enjoyed supporting her equestrian endeavors throughout the years, and we invite you to read about Stevie's horseback riding journey to discover more about her!

Hi! I'm Stevie Delahunt. Though I live in central Oregon now, I was actually born in Germany and have lived all over the world. I attended Michigan State University and competed on their equestrian team, so Michigan is one of the states I have lived in the longest. However, I don't think I'll ever move back from living out west now that I'm here! The endurance riding is just too good.

Long before I found endurance riding, I began horseback lessons regularly when I was eight years old and got my first horse at that age as well. I competed in 4-H and all-around showing programs through APHA, AQHA, and open show programs—eventually moving into all other disciplines, including reining, polo, eventing, hunter jumper, and endurance (which is the discipline I currently focus on).

I wish I had found endurance earlier in life. My greatest joy is sharing the sport with others while encouraging people to get involved with their own horses. Riding at speed through beautiful landscapes is all I ever wanted to do as an eight-year-old girl!

The other thing I love about the sport is how focused it is on the health and comfort of the horse, as well as the bond you have with your horse. No horse is going to unwillingly go 25 or more miles, which encourages you to deepen your communication with them, learn more about proper feeding and care, and develop both you and your horse into better athletes. You cannot ride your best without being fit and balanced, and your horse cannot perform their best without being these things either.

Learning the balance between creating triumph or trauma in difficult situations deepens the trust you have in yourself and your horse has in you, and it creates great opportunities for personal growth. I truly feel endurance riding is an exceptional space to expand the self physically, mentally, and spiritually; which are the elements I focus on at our farm when I do weekend bootcamps and workshops that focus on connection through the sport of endurance.

Every year, our herd's ability to physically and mentally prevail in tough challenges is tested by the infamous Western States Trail Ride: the Tevis Cup. This is a 100-mile race that must be completed within the 24-hour ride time. That time is cut down by the mandatory veterinary holds and food stops stationed along the way that care for the horse's (and rider's!) welfare. The insane climb and descent of the trail coupled with hot summer temperatures creates the ultimate test for humans and horses. The last two years, our horses have claimed an unprecedented 100% completion rate at this event; 5/5 horses finished in 2023, and this year, 2024, 4/4 horses finished. In 2023, we helped an amazing 73-year-old woman from Tasmania realize her dreams, and she completed the Tevis Cup on one of our horses.

For 2025, I am hoping to bring two junior riders through Tevis and raise money for both the trail and an endurance horse rescue program.

I truly believe we all need a sense of purpose in the world, and I know our horses believe in the work that they do—sharing their power and ability with others as well as reminding people what horses and humans are capable of together. I think we live such soft lives devoid of service and purpose that many sentients are losing their way in the world, and endurance events like the Tevis Cup can remind us all of what strength and ability lie untapped inside of us.

Therefore, the Tevis Cup event embodies a lot of what I stand for: doing hard things and having the tools and skills to take those hard things on. I have also successfully completed the three longest horse races in the world: the Mongol Derby, Race The Wild Coast of South Africa, and the inaugural Gaucho Derby in Patagonia.

Alongside having the mental tools and skills, there's having the physical essentials to compete at such a level; that's where Riding Warehouse comes in! It's their products, from JMS Sheepskin Covers to Redmond Rock electrolytes, that are outfitting the team on Tevis Cup day!

I wanted to be sponsored by Riding Warehouse because it's the company I interact with the most. No matter what my current focus with horses is, they have the gear, supplements, customer support, and inventory knowledge I am looking for. It's easy to champion a company you believe in and who believes in you in return!

We hope you enjoyed reading about sponsored rider Stevie Delahunt's life in the discipline of endurance. We encourage you to follow Stevie's journey alongside us, and we invite you to shop some of Stevie's favorite products below. Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our friendly customer service team at 1-800-620-9145 or info@ridingwarehouse.com for assistance. Happy riding!

Stay up to date with Stevie by following her on these platforms:

Instagram: @adventuristbarbie

Facebook: @StevieDelahunt

Website: www.intergalacticequine.com