Hi, my name is Meghan Delp. I am a 14-year-old endurance rider and have 995 AERC lifetime miles. I live in Westminster, Maryland, with my parents, Lisa and Brian Delp. My mother most always sponsors me in rides. She is the person who got me started into this sport. She has helped me so much; I will always look up to her. My dad, Brian Delp, always supports us in what we do, and I will always look up to him too. He is our veterinarian and he works at Laurel Park race track.

I have two horses that I compete. Patches Rival Jet is a 19-year-old POA. I am going to slow down his competitive career because I don't want to put age and distance against him. He was a Christmas gift for me in 2003. He came as a surprise when my parents gave me a huge box, and inside that box there was a smaller box in with rocks and things that made noise. In that smaller box was Rival's papers. (That was the first present I opened because I was so curious.) I was so excited to finally have a horse of my own!

I also ride Fourmiles Kuna, a 13-year-old Arabian/Appaloosa. He was already in this sport when I got him in Christmas 2006. His previous owner is our good friend Cate Peloquin. The first time I rode him, they said it was just for fun. When we got back to the trailers, they had me turn around and close my eyes. After waiting a few minutes, they handed me a purple lead rope, and Cate said you also get what is attached to it. I looked up, and there was Kuna at the end of the lead rope.

I started doing competitive trail riding four years ago. My first ride was the Trough Creek 25-mile CTR. At the very beginning of that ride, Rival reared straight up into the air, like the nasty little pony he is. Later, he started to buck. I bailed off of him and somehow landed on my feet. I cried, and my mom asked me if I wanted to turn around and stop. I said, "No, I want to finish." I got through that day, and I still have that ribbon hanging in my room. I won first junior and first novice rider that day.

The first 50 I did was in 2006, on Rival. That was his first 50, too. It was the Tidioute Wilderness 50. There was a controlled start, and, of course, Rival was nasty, but not as nasty as before. It felt weird riding for so long and having two holds instead of one. At the very end I was so tired, I thought I could sleep for a week. We finished, and even though we were not up front, I managed to get first junior. I was so proud of Rival because that was the farthest both of us have ever been. In that year of 2006, Rival and I had a total 105 miles.

My first 100 was the Pine Tree 100 in 2007. I was very excited because that would be the longest distance that I would ride a horse, and Kuna would be my partner. This would be the farthest he had ever gone, too. My sponsor was Kathy Brunjes, and I was riding with another junior, Sarah Jack. (Sarah and I, because of the ride, became very good friends.)

The day before Sarah and I kept going back and forth to each other's camp, discussing the next day's ride. When we started I was nervous but very excited to do my first 100. Through the day I could start to feel the wear of the miles.

I loved going out into the dark with glow sticks on my horse's breast collar, and my horse finding his way on the trail because he can see it better than I. I will never forget looking down trail and seeing the mile-long line of glow sticks. They were even through the river. As we crossed the finish line, Sarah and I held hands to show we wanted to tie. When, at the post-ride vet check, my mom trotted my horse for me, the fog was just about to set in, and in front of the lights Kuna looked awesome. It was another sight I will not forget.

We finished with a ride time of 14:34. In the year of 2007 Kuna and I had a total of 500 miles with nine rides started, and nine rides completed.

This year Kuna and I did the 75 at Mary Lutz Memorial, finishing in second place and winning best condition. Then we went on and did the Biltmore 100; we finished 17th and I was first junior. I am so proud of Kuna! As of right now, he and I have a total of 280 miles for the 2008 season.

I enjoy riding endurance because I love horses and spending time with my horses and my mother.