Meg Sleeper enjoys riding with her friends. But during the Biltmore Challenge she had to say goodbye to them temporarily as she and Syrocco Rime galloped ahead of the group to earn the victory in the 100-mile ride.

Sleeper, a veterinarian specializing in cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania, faced her own challenges before the Biltmore, and she wasn’t sure six weeks ago that she’d make it to Asheville, N.C., on May 7 to compete.

Syrocco Rime, her 9-year-old, Arabian mare, had eye surgery and had to be off of restricted medication in time to meet the FEI drug rules.

“My horse was overly enthusiastic for the first half,” said Sleeper, laughing.

Sleeper, 37, is no stranger to pressure-filled situations. She was on the 2001 gold-medal winning team at the Pan American Championships and competed in the 2003 and 2005 Pan Ams as well, most recently placing 22nd on a leased horse in Argentina last month. She added that the Biltmore is one of her favorites because of the beautiful trails, good food and nice group of officials.

Sleeper navigated the first four of six loops with her friends, but rode the last two loops alone, finishing in 10:22:22, five minutes ahead of second-placed finisher Kathryn Downs riding Pygmalion, who earned the best condition award.

Held on the grounds of George Vanderbilt’s magnificent Biltmore Estate, built in 1895, the trails provided a challenging ride along the French Broad River and over rolling hills and low mountains in the Blue Ridge range, with views of the stunning Biltmore House. The 100-mile ride consisted of six loops, and the 50-mile ride was three loops, each loop returning to the base camp for vetting.

Because of its difficulty level, the Biltmore generally attracts an experienced group of competitors. All riders were entered in the American Endurance Ride Conference open category and could also elect to cross-enter the 100-mile distance in the CEI***. Competitors in the 50- and 100-mile rides could also elect to cross-enter into the Arabian Horse Association National Championships for Arabians and Half-Arabian/ Anglo-Arabians.

Syrocco Rime earned the AHA National 100-mile Championship and the CEI*** with her victory at Biltmore.

Sleeper’s friends rounded out the top four placings, including Downs (10:27:41), Connie Walker riding Electric Smoke(10:27:50) and Kathy Brunjes aboard Prymtym (10:28:46). The women have known each other for 30 years, and gave each other moral support as well as trading off the lead.

Downs, 61, of Summerville, Maine, rode her own 9-year-old, Arabian gelding Pyg-malion, known as “Harley.” Downs said that she “lives to win the best condition award. Speed has to be in there too, but I won’t try to go at the sacrifice of the horse.”

Harley’s score of 767.18 secured the best condition award. Harley also earned the AERC best condition award in 2004 at Biltmore and was in the top 10 nationally for 100-mile horses.

Walker, Plainfield, N.H., finished third on Jonie and Dennis Brucher’s Electric Smoke, a 10-year-old gelding. Jonie did all of the horse’s conditioning and would have ridden him herself but is recovering from plantar fasciitis.

“He did an amazing job,” said Walker of Electric Smoke. “His energy was steady all day.”

Brunjes said that though she and her friends rode together all day, she let them race for the finish.

“They just started running, and I let them go,” said Brunjes, finishing her eighth Biltmore ride. “It was a tough course; the third red loop and the blue loop had new sections, and I had no idea they’d be as challenging as they were. It was new footing and we were the first ones on it. Still, it’s rare to finish here in less than 10 hours. The Biltmore really depends on the weather.”

A field of 66 riders started at 6 a.m. for the 100-mile ride, and 105 horses started at 6:30 a.m. for the 50-mile ride. They all began as a group in a controlled start, with a pace horse leading the pack for the first couple of miles until the sun came up and the competitors were sure to find their own way through the woods.

Farmer’s Diamond rose to the Biltmore challenge in the 50-mile ride, carrying relative newcomer Gary Farmer to the win. Farmer is a veteran competitor and has finished more than 400 races in his lifetime–but on motorcycles.

Having raced motorcycles since 1969, two years ago the 47-year-old from Blue Ridge, Ga., decided to switch to horses because of the partnership between humans and animals. That relationship culminated when his 8-year-old mare, Farmer’s Diamond, carried him to the head of the pack in the 50-mile ride (4:35:49), well ahead of Bob Stellar of Colorado, riding Little Sam (4:39:37). Little Sam (registered name B A Suddid) earned the AHA National 50-mile Championship as the first registered Arabian to cross the finish line.

Farmer said that the balance and racing strategy that he learned on motorcycles carries over and helps him on horseback. He had ridden very little when he came across the mare that would become his partner. He was riding his friend’s Quarter Horses but found them too slow for his liking. When he rode

“Diamond,” she was high-spirited but kind. “She turned out to be a diamond in the rough,” he said with a smile.

In the beginning he spent two hours training each day. He builds motorcycle trailers for a living, and with his shop only 3 miles from the barn, it was easy to find the time. He made friends in a trail riding club and started riding limited distance rides of 25 or 30 miles. The Biltmore was his third 50-mile ride; he also placed in the top 10 here last year, even though he made a wrong turn on the course.

“Last year I let Diamond down, but this year I didn’t,” he said. At 14.1 hands and 780 pounds, Diamond was one of the smallest horses in the field, and Farmer weighs approximately 190 pounds with his gear. As a just reward, Diamond won the best condition award with 759 points, well ahead of the field.

“She’s pretty, but she’s tough,” he added affectionately.