Granite Chief+/, the 2012 AERC Hall of Fame Horse

“They say that to touch Heaven, your soul must go higher, to streets that are paved with gold and with pearls; but for me, it’s a ridge, high above an endless valley, being one with my horse, at the top of the world. Thank you, Chief, for showing me the world through your ears.” – Karen Chaton

Over 13,500 AERC endurance miles as of May 2013. 12 years of competition. A 99% completion record in 262 starts. He’s the fifth-highest mileage horse in AERC, and the second-highest mileage registered Arabian. The Arabian Horse Association named him their 2005 Distance Horse of the Year. He’s on his 12^th ride season, and has been the recipient of the XP Rides Wendell Robie Trophy in recognition of his outstanding success as a multiday endurance horse.

Is it any wonder Karen Chaton’s Granite Chief+/ was named the 2012 AERC Hall of Fame horse?

Karen and Chief have an extraordinary partnership, the kind that can only be build by hours of time spent together, forging a bond of mutual trust and belief in the other. Karen calls Chief her “once-in-a-lifetime” horse, and they share a unique and special relationship and connection.

Granite Chief+/ has spent the vast majority of his competition career barefoot and wearing hoof boots. Karen and Chief have been using Renegade® Hoof Boots since October of 2008, and Chief has since logged over 5,800 competition miles in a combination of original Renegade® strap-ons and Renegade® Pro-Comp Glue-Ons.

Karen says Chief has been sound and trouble-free for most of his career, with his most serious injury taking place several years ago when Chief ripped open his eyelid on a hot wire insulator. Chief was an excellent patient through the subsequent several surgeries, and has completely recovered from the incident.

Chief has excellent hooves, to the point where he has even completed a 50-mile endurance ride completely barefoot.

Along with the previously listed accomplishments, Chief and Karen rode in the 2011 XP Ride, a 40-day, 2,040-mile ride from St. Joseph, Missouri to Virginia City, Nevada. Karen rode all 40 days of the ride between her horses Chief and Bo, and Chief completed the highest number of miles of any horse on the ride. At the end of the ride, Chief was recognized with the Best Performance Award for his accomplishment.