She and Red (Chrystal's Charm) were teamed 3 years ago after he arrived at the ranch of Skip Lightfoot in San Jose, California after being literally taken from the stockyard truck that was headed for the horse slaughterhouse. He had been rescued by a horse lover who had made some friends among the "buyers" of auction horses that watch for animals coming through who are in good condition.

In the case of then six-year-old Red and five other horses that were consigned, the horses were noticed to be "Arabians in good flesh with straight legs and good bone."

In October of 1998, shortly after Skip had gotten Red, Bergantz asked Skip if he had a horse he wanted her to train on the Death Valley 200-mile four-day race. He told her "take the new one, take Red." She asked if the horse had done any rides and he said he had done two 30-mile rides and a Ride and Tie." She thought, "Oh no, this is 200 miles."

She worked with Red for a month, and then entered him in the 3-day 150-mile Silver State race in Las Vegas because it was sooner. He finished all three days placing, 15th, 9th, and 2nd. She says, "He just seemed to get stronger as the days went on." At the Death Valley Ride, he came in 4th, 1st, 12th, and 3rd, and won the four days best overall time by over a half an hour.

Bergantz said, "He took to the sport immediately. He stays where you put him, doesn't speed up or slow down, and he has that big stride which covers a lot of ground. He was never nervous. He canters in and his heart rate is down." She also says he is 'unflappable,' but that he does get bored. Because he is often in the lead by himself, she sometimes sings to him to keep up his spirits.

In 1999, during his first year of endurance racing, Red earned the name of "The Big Red Machine" when he finished 7th at the legendary Western States Trail Ride (Tevis Cup) Ride in California. Red also received the Haggin Cup, awarded to the rider whose horse is in the "most superior physical condition" of the first 10 horses to cross the finish line.

Year 2000 was not a stellar year "due to some shoeing issues", but this year, 2001, Red started out hot in February by getting 2nd at the Twenty Mule Team 100-mile ride and winning BC. He then won and got BC at the FEI 100-mile Washoe Valley Endurance ride.

On July 7 Red took first at the FEI Swanton Pacific 100-mile ride and again got BC, securing a place on the Pacific South Zone endurance squad for the Pan American Games in August in Vermont. Bergantz said, "Red does so well because he recovers excellently and hills are his strength".

What's next for Red? Bergantz says, "He'll be hanging out until it's time to go to the Pan American Endurance Championship in Vermont. He gets at least 3 weeks off in the pasture between rides."

Bergantz had already begun training for the more humid East Coast climate by having Red wear a blanket as he is training. Always looking forward, Bergantz says her goal for 2002 will be to nominate Red for the World's Endurance Championship to be held in Jerez, Spain in the fall.