When you talk to people in the Australian endurance riding community about legends of the sport, one name that’s often spoken with warmth and admiration is Jim Maffett. 

At 92, Jim’s story stretches far beyond kilometres and finish lines—it's a tale of grit, partnership, and lifelong passion for horses.

A proud Victorian, Jim rode in one of the most memorable Tom Quilty Gold Cups back in 2002, completing the challenging 160-kilometre course at Landsborough aboard Min The Third in an impressive 15 hours and 15 minutes. 

But his legacy isn’t only in the saddle. 

Jim also spent years as a devoted strapper for his wife Kathy, supporting her through her many Quilty rides. 

Together, they clocked up not just miles—but memories, resilience, and an enduring bond built through horses.

We sat down with Jim to reflect on a life lived on horseback, what the sport has taught him, and why the Quilty still holds a special place in his heart.

 

From Reluctant Pony Rider to Endurance Champion 

Jim didn’t grow up dreaming of horses. 

"I was more mechanically minded," he laughed. 

His first pony arrived thanks to his mother, though it didn’t spark an immediate love for riding. 

It wasn’t until working in Western Victoria at a property in Chatsworth, and later managing a racehorse stud, that horses truly entered Jim’s life. 

Still, his involvement was more managerial than equestrian.

Everything changed when he married Kathy, an occupational therapist from the Riverina who had ridden horses to school. 

“The horse came with the marriage,” Jim smiled. 

Kathy continued riding while Jim managed properties across Victoria. 

She eventually discovered endurance riding and, after attending a few rides as her strapper, Jim decided to join her in the saddle.

Building a Life Through Riding 

Jim and Kathy moved from place to place, bringing their horses and endurance dreams with them. 

Their early endurance years included riding socially and attending local events across Victoria and South Australia. 

Eventually, they acquired Magic and Queenie—two special horses from a breeder in Hamilton. 

Kathy rode Magic, while Jim partnered with Queenie, her full sister.

"We started riding together," Jim said. 

"We went to rides all over—South Australia, Western Victoria, the Adelaide Hills. The weather was tough sometimes, but we always got through."

Their shared endurance journey peaked with a South Australian Quilty. 

“We both rode together and both finished,” Jim recalls. 

“It rained the whole way, but it was one of the best rides we did.”

The 2002 Landsborough Quilty 

In 2002, Jim rode Min The Third, a young horse who had also carried Kathy to a Quilty completion. 

That year, Jim completed the gruelling ride in 15 hours and 15 minutes. Sadly, Min was later injured in a paddock accident and had to be retired.

"If you get one good horse in your lifetime, you're lucky," Jim said. 

"Magic did over 10,000km in endurance.”

“Queenie gave me my first Quilty buckle, and Min was right up there."

 

Kathy’s poem: The Spirit of the Quilty 

Kathy was not only a tough and steady rider, but also a quiet poet. After her passing, Jim found a handwritten poem in her desk. 

Titled The Spirit of the Quilty, it captured the muddy, magical chaos of the 1998 ride:

"They came with trucks and trailers during the preceding week, the vision of the riders, the buckle they would seek. The horses looked superb, their fitness was supreme, for the riders and the strappers, this was the fulfilment of a dream."

The poem was later typed up by family friend Alan Salter and shared at her memorial.

A Community That Became Family 

For Jim and Kathy, endurance wasn’t just a sport—it was a way of life. 

“You became a family,” Jim said. 

“We made friends at every ride, camped with them, rode with them, some of them I still keep in touch with today.”

He fondly recalls the friendships they built with riders like Alan Salter, Les McLean, and many others from across Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. 

The endurance community, he said, was a mix of doctors, teachers, farmers, and everyone in between.

On the Evolution of the Sport 

Jim notes that the sport has evolved over the years. 

He recalls the days of riding in military or stock saddles, and now hears of barefoot riders completing 80km bareback rides.

“The gear’s changed, the expectations have changed, but the bond between horse and rider—that’s the same.”

He supports innovations like Scootboots, and is glad to hear they're popular among today’s endurance riders. 

“We used to ride on gravel, beaches, and hills,” he said. 

“If we had something like that back then, it would've made a difference."

 

A Final Reflection 

Jim and Kathy shared their first Quilty in 1997 and collected seven buckles between them. 

They trained together, rode side by side, and supported each other through the highs and lows of the sport. 

“Kathy was never a flashy rider,” Jim said, “but she was steady, and she was tough.”

As for advice to new riders? “You don’t have to be young to start. I was in my 50s. But if you love horses—they’ll teach you everything you need to know.”

As we wrapped up our conversation with Jim, one thing became crystal clear: endurance riding isn’t just about the finish line—it’s about the journey, the people, the horses, and the quiet moments in between. 

Jim’s story is one of humility, humour, and deep respect—for the sport, for his horses, and for his partner, Kathy.

From the early morning starts to the midnight water stops, from saddle to strapping bay, Jim has given his heart to this sport in every possible way. 

And in doing so, he’s left an indelible hoofprint on the trail for future generations to follow.

From all of us at Scootboots, thank you, Jim. 

Your story is what endurance is all about.