Prutirat Ratanakul Serireongrith Unveils “The Horses Endurance Stable”

What makes Khao Yai captivating is not only its pristine natural beauty, but also the people who have chosen to make it their home.

Entrepreneurs and dreamers from all walks of life have brought fresh ideas, new experiences, and vibrant energy to the area—transforming once-abandoned spaces into lively, thriving destinations.

Among them is Prutirat Ratanakul Serireongrith, CEO of Aim Motor Sport (2003) Co., Ltd., and owner of the prime 33-rai plot that was once the site of the iconic Dan Neramit Amusement Park. In 2007, he planted his flag in Khao Yai, developing The Horses Endurance Stable Khaoyai on over 100 rai in Moo Si, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima. The property is now home to The Horses equestrian club and features dedicated training grounds for those who share a passion for horseback riding.

Well-known as one of Thailand’s leading race car drivers, Prutirat Ratanakul Serireongrith has spent over 40 years in the motorsport arena. He is the founder of the AIM Motor Sports team, dedicated to nurturing talented young drivers with a passion for competitive racing, and also serves as President of the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand Under Royal Patronage.

As the years have passed, his love for speed and powerful engines has remained, though the intensity has eased. The steering wheel has gradually given way to the reins of a horse. Through dedicated training, he became one of the pioneers of endurance riding in Thailand—introducing this long-distance equestrian sport to a wider audience—and has personally competed in and won multiple events.

The Khaoyai Connect team met Prutirat, now 68, at The Horses club, embraced by the mountains and bathed in the soft golden light of early evening. There, he shared the story behind his stables, which are now preparing to host The Horses Pony Jumping 2025, a show jumping event open to spectators from 22–24 August 2025.

Prutirat recalled how his journey with horses began. He had been a race car driver for many years, but at one point considered stepping away from the track. While golf was already part of his routine, he started wondering what other sport might capture his interest. Then a memory surfaced—his father, Luang Seriroengrit, once owned a large racing stable in Saphan Khwai called Uthairat Stable, home to over a hundred horses.

“I could ride by the time I was ten,” he said, “but when my father closed the stable when I was 17, I never touched horses again.”

Decades passed. At 50, just shy of retirement, friends invited him to watch a show jumping event at the 29th Cavalry Squadron, King’s Guard, in Sanam Pao. “The moment I saw it, the feeling came rushing back,” he recalled. “It was as if this was the sport I had been looking for all along.”

You’ve been a race car driver your whole life—what brought you back to horses as you approached retirement?

I’ve loved racing cars since my teenage years. While studying at Ramkhamhaeng University, I opened a car modification shop, importing parts from overseas—some from Japan, some from Germany. Later, I began racing with a Mercedes-Benz. At the time, Phakphian Viriyaphan, Managing Director of Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Co., Ltd., said to me, “Since you’re racing a Benz, why not become a Benz dealer as well?” I replied that I knew nothing about selling cars—only about servicing them—because at the time, our workshop was the largest Mercedes-Benz service center in Thailand, second only to Viriyah Insurance. But in the end, I did start selling cars and became a Benz dealer for Thonburi Automotive, located across from Sripatum University. When Mercedes-Benz later changed its policy, I sold the dealership to someone else.

After selling that business, I developed a go-kart track on my own land—the former site of Dan Neramit amusement park. The park’s lease had just expired, and I ran the track for a while before renting the space out for concerts and other events. After the floods, I let others manage it and began spending more time in Khao Yai. By then, I was nearing the end of my working life—close to 60—and my thoughts returned to horses.

At that point, I didn’t even know what kinds of equestrian sports existed in Thailand. So I joined the Equestrian Association and learned about the different disciplines. There was show jumping, but at nearly 60 years old, falling off wasn’t something my body could handle—no spare parts to replace, as I like to joke. Dressage, or the art of horse training, felt a bit too slow-paced for me. Eventing, which combines cross-country jumping, show jumping, and dressage, was also too risky—the cross-country portion requires riding over varied terrain and jumping over man-made obstacles.

It so happened that the association had just introduced Category 4 endurance riding in 2006—right around the time I began exploring equestrian sports in 2007. I decided to give it a try. First, I searched for a horse, which had to be an Arabian—a rare breed in Thailand. Once I found one, I began building a stable in Bangkok’s Saphan Khwai district, on the same site where my father’s original stable once stood.

A trip to Australia—the starting point of endurance riding

In the early days, endurance riding was so new in Thailand that even the Equestrian Association didn’t know how to organize competitions. Friends suggested I visit Australia, and that trip became the turning point. I had the chance to see one of the country’s largest horse farms and to ride there, learning the fundamentals of endurance riding directly from Australian trainers. I also brought in the first group of horses from that farm—three or four at first—but the numbers grew, and eventually I started breeding my own.

As the herd grew, the Saphan Khwai stable became too small. This sport requires open spaces for horses to train and build stamina, so I began driving around to search for land. One day, I found this place. At the time, it was nothing like it is now—the access road barely fit a car, and the branches scraped the sides as I drove in. I remember standing here with my son, looking out at a cassava field in front. Behind us, you couldn’t see anything but a wall of tall grass. I stepped out, walked the land, lit incense, and followed my instincts. I bought the first 80 rai and cleared the entire area. Once it opened up, I thought, “Wow, this is beautiful—this could work.” I began building a house, constructing new stables, and moving the horses from Bangkok to Khao Yai to create a proper training ground for the sport I wanted to pursue.

I brought nearly 20 horses from Saphan Khwai here in 2007, after purchasing the land at the end of 2006. The house wasn’t even finished yet when the horses arrived. From then on, I kept developing the place, competing overseas, and breeding my own horses—Arabians specifically, as they are the breed of choice for endurance riding. Arabians have exceptional stamina, large lungs, and excellent heat dissipation—qualities that make them perfect for this sport, much like elite marathon runners in the human world.

What are the basic rules of endurance riding?

Endurance competitions are defined by distance, starting from 40 kilometers and 80 kilometers. Riders who wish to compete in the Open Speed category—essentially racing at full pace—enter what’s called CEI (Concours d’Endurance Internationale), which begins at the 1-star level. In the past, 1-star events started at 80 kilometers, but the rules have since changed to 100 kilometers. The 2-star level covers 120 kilometers, and 3-star races span 160 kilometers. In Thailand, the longest event currently held is at the 2-star level, or 120 kilometers.

The format is similar to trail running: riders follow a set course mapped out in advance. Rules state that a single loop may not exceed 40 kilometers or be shorter than 20 kilometers. For a 100-kilometer event, the course is typically divided into three loops, while a 120-kilometer race might have four or five loops.

One of the main challenges of this sport is finding enough space for such long distances. Creating a viable course is no easy task. In the past, we held annual international-level events in Khao Yai, drawing riders from Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The route would run through Khao Yai, almost reaching Wat Makut Kiriwan behind Toscana Valley, before looping back. But after parts of Khao Yai changed ownership, some areas were closed to us, making it increasingly difficult to design courses with the required distances.

Who tends to compete in this sport?

The largest groups come from the Middle East—particularly riders from the UAE, Bahrain, Dubai—as well as several European countries.

What makes endurance riding so challenging?

It’s essentially a test of stamina. Riders must navigate varied terrain: dirt roads, hills, descents, and sometimes river crossings, all of which require skillful control of the horse. However, the sport is primarily focused on the horse’s well-being. Before the race begins, each horse undergoes a veterinary check to ensure it’s fit to compete, free from injuries, and in good condition. Only then is it cleared to start.

At the end of each loop, the horse must be checked again within a set time frame. For example, its heart rate must drop to 64 beats per minute or lower; if it remains higher, the horse is eliminated. Signs of injury or dehydration also result in elimination. There are numerous rules designed to ensure the animal’s safety—because unlike humans, horses will run until they collapse, unless the rider physically restrains them.

Endurance horses are incredibly tough, and sometimes they don’t even realize they’ve reached their limit. That’s why the rider–horse partnership is so crucial. Training together allows the rider to understand the horse’s temperament and determine the pace it can sustain. If that limit is exceeded, it’s the rider’s responsibility to slow the horse down.

Understanding a horse’s temperament

Horses are intelligent, but they have short memories. That means training must be repeated consistently until they remember and become proficient. Once they do remember, though, they never forget who did what to them. For example, if a veterinarian has given them an injection before, the moment that vet approaches with a syringe, they’ll immediately turn their back.

I say they have short memories because while they may recall training well for a time, they can forget if too much time passes without practice. Horses are prey animals, so their mood can shift at any moment—they’re always ready to startle or do something unexpected. Their instinct is to flee first and think later; by the time they realize there’s no threat, you might already be on the ground.

A sport that requires true partnership

You can’t just decide to ride a horse whenever you feel like it. Everything must be planned, much like an athlete following a training program. Horses need that structure too. In competition, it’s also a team effort, supported by a service crew stationed along the route to provide water to the horses. Once their job at one stop is done, they must rush ahead to be ready at the next one. This strategic element—the coordination, timing, and teamwork—is part of what makes endurance riding so captivating.

Since you started this sport, what do you think it gives to the participants?

I think it offers a lot. First, it’s about the bond between humans and animals. Back when I was racing cars, the atmosphere was different—more aggressive, with pushing and bumping to get to first place. With animals, you can’t do that. You have to take care of them and know when to go faster or slower. If they’re not up to it, you have to accept that. If a car breaks down, you can replace the parts as long as you have the money. But if a horse gets injured, recovery takes time—and sometimes they might never be the same again.

I’ve noticed that some people don’t understand this. They treat horses like beasts of burden, thinking they can ride them however they want. But you have to start by recognizing that this is a sport—one of the only sports in the world where the equipment is a living being. Some say it’s a sport with two hearts. For me, the horse is an athlete. Just as the rider needs to train, lift weights, and eat well to handle long-distance riding, the horse must also be properly prepared for endurance. Some people skip that preparation and simply push the horse to run when the time comes—they don’t make an effort to understand.

Another thing is that endurance rides take a long time—at least six or seven hours. Anything that lasts that long requires constant communication between rider and horse along the way.

At 68, you’re still competing. What’s your secret to staying in shape?

I’ve been exercising since my racing days. Back when I was driving for Mercedes-Benz, they sent me to Germany for driver training. Part of the program included fitness and nutrition. I used to be a heavy smoker and drinker. They didn’t forbid it, but told me, “If you want to keep driving for many years, you won’t last if you keep living like this.” So I quit and made fitness a priority.

In those days, working out wasn’t as popular as it is now. People thought lifting weights made you look like a laborer (laughs). I remember those early days—doing even the most basic exercises left me gasping for air. I thought I was fit, but the fitness tests proved otherwise. Over time, I added running to my routine as well.

How popular is endurance riding in Thailand right now?

In the past, I organized competitions mainly under The Horses club, which had about 70 competition horses. Later, when I handed over the event organization to the Equestrian Association of Thailand, the number of competition horses dropped to around 50, with fewer senior riders and more juniors taking part.

Is it because the sport requires a high investment?

No, not at all. Compared to show jumping, endurance is far less expensive. A show jumping horse can cost 3–5 million baht at the very least, and that’s not even a top-tier horse. Elite ones can go for 100 million baht. In endurance, if you import a new, untrained horse, the average cost is around 800,000 to 1.2 million baht, depending on the bloodline.

At what age can someone start endurance riding?

The association now sets the minimum age at 12. It used to be 10, but after a few accidents—children losing control of their horses and falling, resulting in broken arms or collarbones—the limit was raised. Some kids were simply too small to handle the horses safely. As for the upper limit, there isn’t one. I’m probably the oldest endurance competitor right now, and almost the oldest in car racing as well. I’m still doing both because, as I’ve said, I love sports—if I stopped, I’d probably feel lifeless (laughs). That said, I’ve slowed down a bit because of my age; next year I’ll only push myself as far as my body allows.

I hear you’re preparing to reopen the club for those interested in endurance riding.

Yes, but it will still operate as a private club. I don’t accept just anyone—we need to screen members. In the past, opening it to the public created too much chaos, so now it’s only for people genuinely interested in the sport.

That said, as we prepare to reopen, I’ve been thinking about show jumping. We’ve already set up the space for it, and people keep asking why we don’t open it for use. Many riders want to compete here because of Khao Yai’s beautiful scenery. So I’ve decided to build an additional stable near the car park and am looking for a manager to oversee operations. If we find the right person, we may allow others to bring their horses here. Many have expressed interest in boarding their horses at our facility, but we’re not ready yet—we still need to find good grooms, and skilled grooms are hard to come by.

Preparing for The Horses Pony Jumping 2025

We’ll be hosting a pony show jumping competition from August 22–24, with free admission for spectators within designated areas. The event will run for three days, with Friday as the warm-up day, and the main competitions taking place on Saturday and Sunday from morning until evening. Visitors can enjoy the excitement of the jumps while also exploring booths from Khao Yai’s local community. This round will feature only small ponies, but if all goes well, we’ll host a large-horse competition in October.

Toward the end of the year, we’re planning a camp for schoolchildren to learn about endurance riding. I want to revive interest in this sport and give the younger generation proper guidance—not just treat it as a business. Many kids today have little understanding of the basics, so our focus will be on teaching correct fundamentals before progressing to more advanced competitive disciplines.

The establishment of The Horses club is not only a personal achievement—it reflects a commitment to something greater. Even as he approaches 70, Prutirat Ratanakul Serireongrith remains full of energy, determined to pass on his passion to the next generation. For him, sport is a tool to build both physical and mental strength, laying the foundation for the quality society we all aspire to create.

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