Endurance Rider AP & Jeepers’ Journey to Their 1st Tevis, by Farnam and Endure Gold Killer Fly & Mosquito Control for April 14, 2026

This episode of Horses in the Morning features a heartfelt and inspiring conversation with AP Davis, an aspiring Tevis Cup rider from Auburn, California, and his endurance horse Jeepers. AP shares his journey from being a military kid with no fixed home to becoming deeply connected to the endurance community in his hometown, the 'endurance capital of the world.' He recounts how he and Jeepers, a 15-year-old quarter horse, qualified for their first Tevis Cup by completing 300 competitive miles within just five months—primarily through 50-mile AERC events—despite starting with no formal training or resources. AP emphasizes that Tevis isn’t just about physical endurance but about community, magic, and personal belief in one’s horse. He also discusses his conditioning strategy, which includes quality hill work, hot walking, and leveraging his role as a live-in barn manager at an endurance ranch. The episode also includes practical advice from Karen Shatton on vet check planning, including pre-packaged feed, color-coded loop markers, and mental preparation for the unpredictable nature of endurance rides. The conversation underscores that success in endurance comes not from pedigree or wealth, but from consistency, adaptability, and emotional connection to the horse.