Magda Bartilsson

I have always loved horses, grew up in Sweden riding Gotland ponies, and came to California 30 years ago for a career as a biotech scientist. After I bought my first horse, Jacob, a black Morgan horse, we became a team for trail patrolling at Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, and that's how I got to know the extensive network of bay area trails. No trail ride was ever long enough or fast enough, and I realized I wanted to become an endurance rider. Twelve years ago, I started Bay Area Ridge Riders (BARR), a riding club that provides members with guided trail rides and coaching for endurance competition, providing horseback riders with a way to get introduced to the sport of endurance without owning their own horses. Ridge Ranch is located in Los Gatos Mountains, and is home for BARR's twelve horses, myself and my husband, and two energetic German Shepherd/Huskie rescue dogs.

Jerry Wittenauer

Jerry Wittenauer - enjoying a second life in “Endurance” after a decade of Ultrarunning in the 90’s – is now entering his 6th season as an Endurance Rider with his best friend “Carlos”. Carlos will be 10 years old in May 2021, and has just over 1000 AERC miles, including multiple 100 mile rides and a successful completion of the 2019 Tevis Ride. Jerry did not discover horses until in his 50’s, and Carlos is his first horse. He thinks that every day is a chance to learn more about these magnificent animals and how to prepare and succeed in the challenging sport of Endurance. He boards his horse at his home in Los Altos Hills and trains extensively in the open space preserves on the Peninsula. Jerry serves as the Ride Secretary for the annual Quicksilver Fall Classic. Aside from his support to the Quicksilver Endurance Riders, Jerry devotes much of his time to preserving and advancing equestrian sports in our area – including serving as the President of the Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association (LAHHA), Secretary for the Equestrian Trails Riders Action Committee (ETRAC), and is a member of the Western States Trail Foundation Board of Governors. He looks forward to joining the QSER Board and helping to continue the proud traditions of this club!

Brian Reeves

I am married with a great wife and son. I started in endurance in 1989, and my wife and became members of QSER in 1990.

I have been a past President, Vice-President, and a member of the board, some several times.

I have managed the Quicksilver Fall Classic Endurance Ride 10 or 12 years in total, and continue putting on rides every year, most notably the 20 Mule Team 100/65/35 ride.

I have been given the honor by the club of receiving the Eleanor Norton Award, and being inducted into the QSER Hall of Fame.

I have crewed, ridden, worked, and managed rides (both domestic and international) and will continue doing so to further the sport as long as I am able.

Nick Warhol

I have been riding Endurance for 32 years now, starting at the age of 33 when I sat on a horse for the first time.  (After getting my wife her first horse.  I thought it would give her a sport to keep her busy, but it back fired on me!)   I have logged over 14,000 miles and ridden in 35 one day 100-mile rides, still my favorite.   I served on the Board of Directors for the AERC representing the West region for two terms, I’m a ride manager, AERC Mentor, and have created a 2-day introduction to endurance clinic for people who know nothing about the sport.   I spend a lot of my time helping other ride managers with their rides, mostly marking trail on a dirt bike and quad, especially in the desert.  I love riding in the desert best, having grown up in Las Vegas.   My AERC Pardner’s award horse, Donnie, with 6600 miles, is retired from endurance now; he is my wife Judy’s riding horse.  My newest horse, Sorsha, (above)  is coming along extremely well, and is a thrill to ride!  We live on a ten-acre horse ranch in Hayward, California.  

Rachel Miura

I grew up in Placerville, CA and was lucky enough to have a horse of my own as a kid and be part of the local 4-H and Pony Club. I rode off and on in my 20s and 30s and then started riding more regularly in 2013, taking lessons and also riding with Bay Area Ridge Riders. In 2020 I got a horse of my own - Theodore the Wonder Horse, a part Shagya-Arabian gelding. Our first endurance season was 2021 and we've been learning loads and having fun since then! I am excited to be part of a local endurance riding community and to contribute to the advancement of our sport. 

Barbara Harpster

My connection with horses began when I was 12 years old. I grew up in Hannover/Germany and the barn started us teenagers with vaulting lessons. What a great way to learn the gates of a horse! Jumping on its bareback and doing all crazy acrobatic things on the moving horse. So, riding a horse sitting backwards: no problem! Only after horseman ship lessons did I actually get to ride the beautiful Hannoverians, until the end of High School.

After graduating with an Agricultural Engineering degree in Goettingen, where I met my late husband and decided to follow him to California in 1989. I first met Magda Bartilsson at a preschool in Belmont with both of our two sons in attendance. Later during middle school years we moms saw a window opening up to ride horses again. So, Magda started building her dream business ‘Bay Area Ridge Riders’ with her Morgan ‘Jacob’ to nowadays mas o menos 12 horses for trail & endurance rides!

Magda inspired me to fall in love with endurance rides and its community. I have done more than a handful LD’s with one that felt like a 50 mile one. So, I am hooked on endurance, very grateful to ride Magda’s well trained horses and still on the hunt for my first official 50 mile one.