You know her as Raymond’s Town Clerk – a competent and helpful individual who has worked behind the counter for the past 16 years and as clerk since 2001.

But do you know the other side of Louise Lester? Her passion? Or, according to her, her disease?

Lester rides horses. Not just the Sunday-afternoon-go-out-for-an-hour type ride. On the contrary. Lester competes in two types of racing events: competitive trail riding and endurance riding.

Competitive trail riding can be a one-day event, covering 25 to 40 miles, a two-day event of 50 to 60 miles, or a three-day event consisting of an 80 to 100 mile ride. In this event, riders are started two at a time at two-minute intervals so they are not clumped along the trail.

“In competitive trail riding,” Lester said, “it’s not a race but a timed event. You’re given a window of opportunity to come in on and it’s judged on points, not on who’s the fastest horse – Any horse can do it.”

For example, in a 25-mile ride, they are allowed 4 hours, 10 minutes to 4 hours, 40 minutes to finish. If they come in early or late, there is a point penalty; if later than 5 hours, 10 minutes they are disqualified.

Endurance riding covers 50 to 60 miles a day and the horses all start at the same time.

“With competitive trail and endurance riding,” Lester said, “it’s all dependent upon the condition of the horse.”

At the July 23 and 24 fifty-mile Fryeburg Competitive Trail Ride, Lester and her horse, Tappedanick – Tap for short – came in first place. Her daughter, Charlotte (Becky) Jewell, along with her horse, RamZee, stood reserve champion.

What does it take to become a champion in an event that features the type of riding many still associate with John Wayne and Roy Rogers, or maybe Kevin Costner if you’re under 40? What motivates a person – even in weather extremes – to plunge into icy rivers, forge through thick woodlands, and gallop across open fields?

“It’s the two of us together,” said Lester. “It’s a real partnership and I think that’s what makes it so special.”

According to Lester, in these races, the rider must anticipate the needs of the horse. For example, the horse must be allowed to drink water whenever he has the opportunity. That opportunity may come in the form of natural water sources along the path, or, at other times from five-gallon buckets provided by ride management.

The riders may also sponge the horses down or pour water over them, but the trick is knowing when they need it.

Lester has been fortunate in her 33 years at this sport. She’s never had a horse get sick or injured on a trail.

On one occasion, her horse lost a shoe, causing her to dismount and walk him to the next checkpoint. This disqualified her from the race, as a rider in a competitive trail event isn’t allowed to walk any part of the course.

The rules for endurance riding are somewhat different.

“In endurance,” Lester said, “some of the riders get off their horses and run beside them – talk about fit people. I have gotten off and walked. On a steep hill, we do what we call tailing up – you have a long rein on your horse, get behind him, and grab his tail and he’ll pull you up the hill. They have to be trained to do this but it helps you go up the hill, especially if you’re out of shape.”

Lester stresses the deep bond in this sport between horses and their riders. That bond is both an integral part of the competition and what drives her and many others like her to participate.

And the relationship she has had over the years with her horses has been as different with each as the horses themselves have been different from each other.

“Just like with your own children,” Lester said, “you love each of them equally for all their good points and their bad.”