And this year he hopes that will include a trip to Kentucky for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

At the end of 2009, Steve Rojek had accumulated more than 42,000 miles in distance riding competitions, 19,000 of those miles at endurance rides. That’s the equivalent of twice around the world, and indeed he’s competed in Ireland, France, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Uruguay and just about anywhere there is a ride in North America.

For 2009, he received the Maggy Price Endurance Excellence Award, sponsored by Gold Medal Farm’s Larry and Valerie Kanavy and given annually to the rider who earns the most points at designated FEI endurance competitions. Price, who passed away in 2007, helped bring U.S. endurance into the international spotlight.

The award had special meaning for Rojek, who logged almost 2,000 miles in 2009, since he and Price were longtime friends. With their spouses, they traveled to exotic places like China, Tibet, Morocco, India, Ladakh, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

“Our last trip was to Turkmenistan, where we helped organize their first endurance ride,” recalled Rojek. “Maggy exemplified endurance riding with class and flair, and it is a real honor to accept this award.”

Last year, Rojek won the Ocala CEI*** (Fla.) and had top-10 finishes at the Williston CEI** (Fla.), the Morriston CEI*** (Fla.) and the Chester CEI*** (Ga.).

“We have the best of both worlds,” said Rojek, who lives with his wife Dinah in South Woodstock, Vt., and Kingsland, Ga., and competes year-round.

Their Smoke Rise Farm consists of a restored historic house in one of the most active trail networks in Vermont. The Rojeks have helped expand that trail network, with more than 600 acres of developed trails on their farm. Having the Green Mountain Horse Association nearby initially attracted them to the area.

Steve enjoys a morning tea break in a gazebo overlooking the Connecticut River Valley. The horses stand quietly tied to trees while the Rojeks take the time to enjoy their surroundings.

In Georgia, with the Saint Mary River running past their farm, kayaking out to a secluded inlet for breakfast or inviting guests onto their pontoon boat for a sunset dinner is common practice. Nearby Cumberland Island is also a destination for picnics on the beach.

Smoke Rise Farm was the base camp for the Vermont 100-Mile Endurance Ride and Run for 20 years, with special touches such as a pianist playing “Chariots of Fire” and fireworks at the 4 a.m. start. The event moved five years ago to a nearby field, but Steve continues to support the event.

Steve has a number of enterprises in Lebanon, N.H.: two pet stores and the Lebanon Heath Food Store (famous for its Lunch-all-Day Café and herbs, supplements and homeopathic remedies). He also owns Slypner Gear, which sells equipment to distance and trail riders. Steve tests the equipment and is a wealth of knowledge on new products.

“Riding is my passion, which makes me want to explore and use any and every aid available to me. One example would be thermography (digital infrared thermal imaging), which allows me to evaluate the horse’s body as he is developing or competing and be able to back off or treat areas before the horse suffers an injury. We also use a high-speed treadmill, a free flow horse exerciser and continuous flow cold water boots,” he said.

Make Them Even Better

Riding 2,000 miles a year at competitions multiplies tenfold for the miles Steve spends in the saddle to prepare his horses for events. It takes years to develop a horse for a 100-mile ride, and Steve has up to six horses competing at the same time.

He started his endurance career in 1986 and 10 years later earned a team gold medal at the 1996 World Endurance Riding Championships in Kansas, on the great horse Peregrine. The homebred progeny of Steve’s Thoroughbred mare, Perkion, and Dinah’s Arabian stallion, Atilanch, he was one of many champion horses bred at Smoke Rise Farm. “Hawk” also competed at the 1999 Pan American Championships.

Hawk’s half brother, Smoke Rise Finally, competed on the U.S. team at the 2001 Pan American Championship in Vermont, earning team gold, at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Spain, the 2003 Pan American Championship in Washington and the 2005 Pan American Championship in Argentina, where they earned a team silver.

More recently, Steve has been buying horses with some experience.

“I keep an eye out for horses that appear to have potential, and if the opportunity arises I buy them,” said Steve.

Seyvilla Triproof, “Savvy,” had competed in 15 50-mile rides; Sambet had been campaigned for the North American Endurance Championship, and Valerie Kanavy competed LM Francesa Phar at the 2009 Pan American Endurance Championship.

“Even though they had experience, I still evaluated them and put them into a program to make them even better,” said Steve, who purchased Savvy’s brother and half brother because he liked Savvy so much. “Some of my other purchases were simply because the horse caught my eye.”

When choosing a horse, Steve looks for the most perfectly conformed animal possible.

“There is no point asking a horse who starts out with a conformation defect to perform at this level,” he said. “It’s unfair to the horse and uses up valuable time, which could be spent on an athletic horse. I like a horse to have attitude but still be willing to work with me. I spend a lot of time, and I mean a lot of time, training my horses to carry themselves correctly in order to maximize their ability. I think that really pays off.

“I consider my horses living, breathing, feeling creatures, not just instruments,” he added.

Steve’s ideal endurance horse doesn’t need to be fancy. “[It would be] rather average in movement. Fifteen hands, absolutely as correct legs and feet as possible, and an attitude that brings the horse to work with me,” he said.

As Fast As He Can

Steve’s riding philosophy is “to ride as fast as I can that day without hurting my horse. I don’t like to be out in front, setting the pace. That is a hard thing to do with everyone chasing you.

“I prefer to use the first 10 miles to warm up my horse before asking for more speed,” he added. “I can do that by starting in the front part of the ride and then move up if I can. I do usually ask my crew where I am before that last loop. I want to know who, and how far ahead or behind me, is going out with me. Most importantly, be positive.”

Indeed, Steve is well known for his upbeat attitude at competitions.

“I don’t know how he does it, but even in the pouring rain, Steve manages to look good,” said Kathy Brunjes, “when the rest of us look like drowned rats!”

Brunjes has competed with Steve for more than 20 years. She traveled to Argentina in 2005 to crew for Dinah and help Steve.

“He is probably the easiest person in the world to crew for; he does a good deal of the work himself and is never demanding nor fussy. Steve makes sure that his grooms are well taken care of and that they can also enjoy the country and competition venue.”

Brunjes has always enjoyed riding with Steve. “One cannot complete 100 miles of trail without hearing the latest in his repertoire of jokes and stories,” she said. “He is never less than a gentleman on trail and is one of my favorite competitors to ride with. I will never forget the President’s Cup [Abu Dhabi, 2008] as we were cantering along a stretch of desert, through what was termed ‘The Forest’ (cultivated trees that stood about 3-4 feet tall) and we both turned to each other at the same instance and asked, ‘Does it get any better than this?’ And it really doesn’t get any better than being able to compete with Steve.”

Meg Sleeper also named Steve as one of her favorite competitors for sharing the trail. “I can always count on an enjoyable ride with Steve: he paces very well, he never complains and the jokes never end,” she said. “Do you know how to sell a deaf man a chicken?”

Steve never seems to run out of new material for jokes. “I used to get them from the postmaster at the South Woodstock post office, but when he retired, I was on my own,” said Steve with a laugh. “Thank goodness for e-mail!”

Steve is preparing his season with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in mind. “Beaujolais and Savvy are my best horses at present, but that could change,” he said. “I am fortunate to have a selection of qualified horses, and there are still four more FEI 100s I plan on attending before making that decision.”

Steve often uses his riding partners, Kyle Gibbon and Hernon Barbosa, as crew.

“I crew for Kyle, he crews for Hernon, and we all work as a group,” said Rojek with a smile. “I do have great
people to help at the championship rides, the first being my wife Dinah. She and Kyle will definitely be with me if I compete at the WEG. All and all I have been very lucky and appreciate that. I have good friends around me making this all happen.”

“I am so lucky and fortunate to have so many wonderful sound, fit, strong horses,” he added. “It is such an honor to be part of the team that represents the United States. If I get selected this will be my fourth World Championship. How lucky can a guy get?”