The 62nd Tevis Cup by Arabian Horse World

Tevis Cup The 62nd

The 62nd Tevis Cup, 100-Miles-One-Day Trail Ride, was held August 5, organized and managed by the Western States Trail Foundation. This year’s course started in Soda Springs, joined up with the old trail and then traversed the Sierra Nevada mountains and ended at the fairgrounds in Auburn, California. B Y

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“We had a record snowfall and could not access the trail on top of Squaw Valley for trail work,” said Ride Director Chuck Stalley. “From the Soda Springs start, we rejoined the regular Tevis trail at the 12.5-mile point after Squaw Valley and the wilderness. With this change, the riders went to 7,300 feet instead of 8,800 feet.” A total of 172 riders left the starting line, hailing from the U.S. (156), Canada (4), Australia (5), Argentina (2), Spain (2), France (1), Japan (1), and Germany (1). Over half — 92 — would eventually cross the finish line, with 51 of them completing in the final hour. Six juniors started and all six completed. To enter, riders must have 300 sanctioned career miles and horses must be six years of age. Most riders’ goals are just to complete; to conquer the grueling trail on their trusty steed. There are more than a handful of competitors, though, who strive to top ten or

“The pressure was already obvious to me but then these words

jokingly left Rusty’s mouth, ‘I mean, really, the only way you can improve his record is to win Tevis!’”

Facing page: On their way to winning the Tevis Cup, Tennessee Lane (nicknamed Tenney) and Auli Farwa (FV Aul Fancy Free x Winchester Silkie), aka Far, climb Cougar Rock with finesse. After tragically losing his partner Kevin Myers, and becoming Far’s owner, Rusty Toth found last year’s Tevis too emotional (he and Far completed in 11th place) to attempt to compete this year. Toth said, “When Tenney mentioned her horse was out of this year’s Tevis, I offered her Far to ride. She is a wonderful horsewoman and friend. There are few I’d trust to ‘race’ a horse of mine at this level but I trust her completely. I made the right decision!

perhaps even win: last year’s winner, Karen Donley, M.D.; three-time winner Jeremy Reynolds and his wife, two-time winner Heather Bergantz Reynolds, were on the trail; “They had the perfect day,” he continued. “I knew Far was fit and ready. I let her know I believed he was Lindsay Fisher, DVM, in addition to the Blakeleys, a husband and wife team, who fitter than last year and could top ten easily. I shared most often finish in the top ten. And then there was Auli Farwa (FV Aul Fancy Free x his strengths and weaknesses and past strategies Winchester Silkie), aka Far, ridden by Tennessee Lane, the eventual winner in 14 hours and let her do her thing. I could not be more proud of 45 minutes. them both!” “I was tearfully honored when Rusty Toth called me and offered Far,” said Tennessee Lane, Colorado, who had to scrub months prior from the ride on her horse TM Burning Bridges (Burning Sand x Scarlet O Sara), due to a minor injury. “The opportunity to ride Far was awesome but there was also a lot of pressure. Far was already famous, not only a Haggin Cup winner but not a single pull over the 1,000s of miles he’s raced, most of them completed in the top ten. On top of that, he was owned by the late Kevin Myers (who sadly committed suicide last year). This beautiful, powerful horse has become an icon in our close-knit endurance community. People often tear up just looking at him, remembering our tragic loss of Kevin, a great and wonderful friend. “The pressure was already obvious to me but when these words jokingly left Rusty’s mouth, ‘I mean, really, the only way you can improve his record is to win Tevis!’, it hit me even harder.” Karen Donley, M.D., and Royal Patron (Monarch AH x Pink Beaches) started out riding with her son J.J., on MMF Aragorn (MMF Thunders Echo x MMF Melian). “Aragorn is a horse we bred that is physically stronger than my horse but has had less experience,” she said. “This was Aragorn’s first Tevis (and 100-miler).” Missing at the starting line were strong contenders; the 2015 winner, 74-year-old Potato Richardson (three-time winner), and 75-year-old Jesse Caldwell who placed sixth last year, and Garrett and Lisa Ford. Garrett, who completed in third place last year and his wife Lisa in second place, said, “Getting a horse ready to top ten at Tevis is a huge commitment. It’s a commitment that consumes you and your family from March to August. We decided to take the year off from Tevis to both travel and enjoy the mountains of Southwest Colorado. But we’ll be back to ride Tevis.” The ride began with a controlled start at 5:15 a.m.. “They had to walk for two miles because of a flat, no-rail automobile bridge that is five or six Tevis winners Tennessee Lane and Far looking awesome and in great feet off the water,” said Ride Director Chuck Stalley. “If the mass of riders form leaving Foresthill’s one-hour hold, 68 miles into the 100-mile course. “I was absolutely without a doubt confident in Far, and I could had hit that at a trot, somebody would have gone off. We had to assure tell he felt the same way about me. We knew we could take care of the land-trust owners, who allowed us to use it, that the riders would walk each other, keep up with each other, and trust each other completely. across. After the bridge they were released to continue at their chosen pace That’s a huge deal. At Tevis, Far’s life is literally in my hands all day, onto a double track trail.” my life is literally in Far’s ‘hands’ all day. To be able to gallop (not a little canter, a gallop) on a single-track trail with a sheer drop-off on A newcomer to the sport (400 miles since 2014), Richard George riding one side in the pitch black dark is amazing. Only a select few horses a ten-year-old Anglo/Arabian MF Amir Al Rasool (Akdar Brins x May Go earn that level of trust. The communication at that point is 100 percent North, Thoroughbred), jumped out in the lead. visceral, with zero room for error. Far was absolutely flawless. He and I communicated very well all day.” Strung out behind George, from two to 20 minutes, were Tennessee Lane 129 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2017

Tennessee Lane spreading some of Kevin Myers’ ashes along the Tevis trail at the base of Cougar Rock. Lane was riding Kevin’s beloved horse, Auli Farwa, who is now owned by Rusty Toth.

on Far; Lindsay Fisher, DVM, on Chris Martin’s gelding, the fabulous Monk, an unregistered Arabian with an outstanding record; Karen Donley and Royal Patron; her son J.J. Donley on MMF Aragorn were staying within striking distance. Also in contention was Wasch Blakeley riding RA Ares Bey (Must Bey Dreamin x RBS Aalani Mist) and his wife Gabriella was on LLC Pyros Choice (Pyro Thyme SA x TC Kharieta). Melissa Ribley, DVM, a frequent top ten finisher, was riding RM Ever Ready (Amazing Son x Vironica). The Reynolds were riding a little more conservatively, not in the top ten at first but definitely not to be overlooked. Jeremy Reynolds was on his first-time 100-mile mare Treasured Moments (DA Adios x Hidden Treasure) and his wife Heather Reynolds on Grand Ku (Foot Loose Too x Bandanaomi Ku), also a firsttime 100-miler. At Last Chance, the 50mile point, the lead pack was closing in on Richard George. Melissa Ribley entered the check at the same time as George; Lindsay Fisher and Tennessee Lane were one minute later. Last Chance was a ‘gate and go’, which means soon as they pass the veterinary exam they are released to continue down the trail. George left that check two minutes ahead of Fisher, and three minutes ahead of Lane and Ribley. Out of Deadwood, 55 miles, another ‘gate and go’, Lane took the lead by one minute over Alison Farrin, riding Shalimar

Yukon (Shalimar Brio x Brown R Yasmeen), Fisher, and George. Ribley was nine minutes later out of the checkpoint. At Michigan Bluff, 62.5 miles into the course, Fisher left the water troughs (not a vet check) one minute ahead of George and Lane was two minutes behind him. Fisher and George arrived together at Pieper Junction, just a couple miles from where they left Michigan Bluff. Unfortunately, George’s horse did not pass the veterinary exam and was out of the competition due to lameness. J.J Donley also withdrew his horse Aragorn from the competition (rider option). “This was Aragorn’s first Tevis,” said Karen Donley about her son’s horse. “He tends to be somewhat nervous, but has been getting better over the years. He has not had the advantage of starting off on the racetrack and being exposed to crowds like some of the other horses. This year’s start made it tougher on him. We had to stand and wait for close to 30 minutes before the start, followed by a two-mile controled start, then a very fast ten miles. He used up a lot of nervous energy in all this. We slowed down to help him recover. Although he passed his vet check at Pieper Junction, J.J. felt Aragorn was not himself and it was safer to stop. I totally agreed with his decision.” Out of Pieper Junction, Fisher and Lane were within one minute apart. Alison Farrin had slipped up to third place, 17 minutes behind the leaders. Alison’s Shalimar Yukon was a rescue horse, not in the sense of abuse or starvation, but the result of the previous owner being charged with embezzlement. “The owner was arrested and charged with embezzling $5,000,000 from her employer,” explained Alison. “Lawyers swooped down and sold everything on the property that wasn’t actually nailed down. That included nearly 100 horses, some of which went for good money, as they were well trained and well bred. Released on her own recognizance, she promptly jumped bail and fled the state in her motor home, pulling a two-horse trailer with two of her favorite horses in it. One of them was Shalimar Yukon. “She made it to New Mexico before being apprehended and returned to custody

“At Tevis, Far’s life is

literally in my hands and my life is literally in Far’s ‘hands’. To be able to

gallop, not a little canter, but a gallop, on a singletrack trail with a sheer drop off on one side in the pitch black dark is

amazing trust between horse and rider.”

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Throughout the day, Tevis competitors are treated to spectacular mountain scenery. Leading this group of riders is the eventual second place finisher Lindsay Fisher, DVM, riding Monk, an unregistered Arabian owned by Chris Martin. Next is Susannah Jones who finished 62nd place on Diablo Maj (Rushan AHSB x Paradisa [*El Paso]) and seventh place finisher Alison Farrin on Shalimar Yukon (Shalimar Brio x Brown R Yasmeen).

in California, this time without bail. The horses were sent to Equine Well Being, Inc., and that’s where I got him,” Farrin says. The rest is history. Since 2012, the two have garnered over 2,400 endurance miles, including two previous Tevis finishes. At the next check, a one-hour hold at the 68-mile point at Foresthill, the first ten riders arrived and left within the same hour. Fisher and Lane were separated by only three minutes. Heather and Jeremy Reynolds had moved up to third and fourth place, dropping Alison Farrin to fifth place, but only by one minute. The Blakeleys were sixth and seventh place. Melissa Ribley was four minutes behind the Blakeleys and Karen Donley was in ninth place. Behind her was Diane Stevens on Banderaz LC (Jazzman DGL x Zordosa) filling out the top ten. Banderaz, according to Stevens, was dangerously difficult in his early years of training. He would rear and flip over when least expected. After Diane suffered broken bones and endured surgery after one such flip over, her husband who was leaving for duty in Iraq, said, “I don’t want to see this horse when I get back.” But, Diane felt there was so much potential in this horse, she wasn’t about to give up on him. It took several trainers, and more mishaps before she found the right trainer. Since then, the pair have had five Tevis starts and four completions. She rode with her husband, John, until Deadwood when the lack of electrolytes (uncapped and spilt in saddlebags), attributed to his horse needing more time to recover.

Last year’s seventh place finishers, Lindsay Fisher, DVM, and Monk, an unregistered Arabian gelding owned by Chris Martin, cruising over Lyon Ridge. Throughout the day, especially the second half of the course, the pair battled for first place but happily accepted second place. Her ride time was 14 hours 57 minutes.

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Leah McCain and OT Dyamonte Santo (Dymoni RSI x SVS Pechankha) taking a break to cool off in the river at mile 50. This pair completed in 20th place with a course time of 19 hours 14 minutes.

Diane waited 28 minutes longer, when it was decided she should continue and he would slow down. Other riders pitched in to supply her with electrolytes along the way. After Foresthill, her horse, now refreshed, continued down the trail. Unfortunately, at Francisco’s vet check (85 miles) Heather Reynolds was forced to drop out as her horse trotted out lame. “That was a little my fault,” admitted Jeremy Reynolds. “I encouraged Heather to keep up with me in the later miles on the descents. Her horse had enough of the down hills and came up a little sore in a shoulder. He looked amazing the next day so we are super excited about his future. He is a hill monster.” Out of Francisco, Karen Donley had moved up to fifth place, Ribley sixth, the Blakeleys next, seventh and eighth places. Nearly 132 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2017

Bottom left: Veteran competitors, husband and wife Heather and Jeremy Reynolds, both previous Tevis winners, teamed up on their first-time 100-mile horses. Unfortunately Heather and Grand Ku (Foot Loose Too x Bandanaomi Ku), went out of the game at 85 miles. Jeremy continued on his mare Treasured Moments (DA Adios x Hidden Treasure) to complete in third place and earn the coveted Haggin Cup for best condition. Bottom right: Karen Donley, M.D., who won the event last year, eased through the course to finish in fourth place with a course time of 16 hours 18 minutes. She rode Royal Patron (Monarch AH [*Wiking] x Pink Beaches) both years.

Crewing on Bath Road entering Foresthill, Alison Farrin’s crew in the foreground, Heather Reynolds in the background.

30 minutes behind the Blakeleys were Claire Godwin, DVM and then Diane Stevens hanging on to tenth. This was the fifth time Godwin traveled across the U.S. to California from Maryland to compete in the Tevis (2009-12th, 2010-fifth, 2015-15th and 2016-18th place). She’s been competing in endurance since 1992 and has over 16,000 career miles. Godwin also owns the oldest horse to complete the Tevis this year, PL Mercury (AM Autumn Mead x Playland Lady). Merc, as the 26 year-old gelding is called, has completed the Tevis in 2009-44th, 2010-sixth, 2015-14th, and this year finished in 74th place with Lisa Bykowski aboard for the third time on the Tevis course. If the competition can get more intense, it is after the river crossing at 88 miles, and into and out of the Lower Quarry Gate and Go at 94 miles. This is a place where riders’ decisions make or change the outcome of the ride. Fisher later admitted, “I didn’t start the ride going for the win. I only considered it after Michigan Bluff, and then leaving Foresthill I realized there was a good possibility. Tenney and I leap-frogged all day. Sometimes we just passed each other on the trail or in vet checks and sometimes rode together for a short while. It wasn’t until the California loop (78 miles) that we rode stride for stride until Lower Quarry (94 miles).” At the Lower Quarry, with only six miles to go before the finish line, Tennessee Lane and Far cleared the check two minutes ahead of Fisher and Monk. “Our horses pulsed down and vetted at the same time,” explained Fisher. “We both had a lot of horse left. Tenney and Far left that check at the gallop and my gut reaction was to let her go. It was both a hard and easy decision to make. Someone had to give and I couldn’t fathom hurting Monk racing to the finish. He gave me the best ride ever and I didn’t want to ruin that.” At that point, Jeremy Reynolds was 52 minutes behind the leader. His only hope was to hold his position, as Karen Donley was 17 minutes behind him and Wasch and Gabriela Blakeley were 30 minutes behind. Far carried Tenney over the finish line at 10 p.m. with a course time of 14 hours 45 minutes. It was a victory for both and also for many others, including friends and family of

Top: Wasch Blakely riding RA Ares Bey (Must Bey Dreamin x RBS Aalani Mist) and Gabriela Blakely on LLC Pyros Choice (Pyro Thyme SA x TC Kharieta). Wasch completed in fifth place and Gabriela in sixth with a course time of 16 hours 34 minutes. Frequently finishing in the top ten, this couple and their two children earned the Bill Thornburg Family Award for 2016. Bottom: This made the 13th Tevis finish for Melissa Ribley, DVM. She completed in eighth place on RM Ever Ready (Amazing Son x Vironica) in 16 hours 47 minutes.

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Margot Chazel was one of the international riders participating this year — she works for Al Zobair Stud in the U.A.E. She is traversing Cougar Rock aboard the Half-Arabian gelding RR Jazz Dancer (ZA River Dance x RR Zilla), owned by Christoph Schork of Moab, Utah.

I have a dream … BY MARGOT CHAZEL

“Don’t dream your life, live your dreams,” is my very own mantra. I do believe that we have to live our life to the fullest; we never know what tomorrow will bring. Some dreams take time, some dreams bring new dreams, and other dreams become goals. Tevis … I don’t even remember the first time I heard this word — probably before I was even old enough to talk. My dad participated in this mythical race when he was just 15 years old. As a result, he spent a lot of time in the United States, and made amazing memories from it. He used to tell me stories about Tevis every night before bed. It was by far my favorite bedtime story, and from a little girl’s dream, it soon became a young woman’s goal. So, after almost a year of preparation, there I was — Soda Springs, California, August 5, 2017, 5:00 a.m., fifteen minutes before the start. To be honest, I was so focused that I didn’t fully realize that I was about to start the Tevis Cup! After so many years of hearing about it, and after practicing on so many different tracks, I really thought I knew more or less what to expect, and how hard it would be. Well, I actually had no idea! From the very start, climbing not mountains, but more like walls, so many kilometers, following very crooked, stoney trails, and some pathways with so much dust that you can’t see the track in front of you. You are just holding on and praying that your horse won’t stumble. (continued on next page)

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the late Kevin Myers and his partner Rusty Toth. “I will never forget that ride for so many reasons,” Tenney said. “What a monumental and symbolic victory. We have so much to live for, so much to be thankful for, so much love to give. I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to develop a relationship with Far and to win the Tevis Cup aboard him. What an amazing experience!” Lindsay Fisher and Monk crossed the finish line 12 minutes later. “I have ridden Monk in all types of races, all over the world,” she said. “Through all of them, I ‘thought’ I had a strong horse under me. But at this year’s Tevis Cup, I had a different level of ‘strong’ under me. I had a horse that I never had to ask to trot; he did so on his own. He wanted to go faster when I didn’t. I had a horse that recovered quicker and ate and drank better than ever. We rode neck and neck pretty much with the famous Far and his rider Tennessee Lane all day to almost the very end. Four miles from the finish I made a bittersweet decision to not race in. I’m proud of my decision, and finished with a sound and happy horse! I congratulate Tenney and their team for the win! Two world-class horses! Thank you to my wonderful crew, I couldn’t have done so well without you. And to the Western States Trail Foundation, veterinarians and volunteers ... thank you! And to Chris Martin, once again, I am thankful every day that you continue to allow me ride your boy Monk!” Nearly an hour later, at 11:09 p.m., Jeremy Reynolds and

Riders on Lyon Ridge.

Treasured Moments crossed the finish line. He later said, “I caught Tenney and Lindsay at the bottom of the first canyon and saw the way their horses were able to make the climb out. I knew the win was not in the cards for me. But, I had the feeling that if I stuck to my game plan, earning the Haggin Cup might be possible.” And indeed his mare did win the Haggin Cup. One of the officials said it was an easy choice because the mare looked and moved so well at the judging the following day. About the seven-year-old Treasured Moments, Reynolds said, “Well her name says it all. She and her mother almost died at her birth and it is a treasure to get to spend time with her. Her favorite thing is to drop her head in my chest and have her eyes rubbed and be petted. We’ve had her two-and-a-half years and she gave us a beautiful filly last year. I had my eye on her since I met her as a late two-year-old at Cre Run. She was bred by Cre Run and trained by the wonderful and amazing Lynn Ashby.” Karen Donley cruised in for a fourth place finish on Royal Patron. “Leaving Foresthill we had a great ride, passing several riders who would stay with us for a short while,” she said. “They commented on how great she looked. This year it was dark when I left Francisco’s (85 miles) versus last year we were well past the river (88 miles) when it got dark. You can only go so fast in the dark without taking risks. It is hard to say how she would have done if we hadn’t been held up by staying with my son. But to me it’s about having the best ride possible given the circumstance, and we did!”

Cougar Rock is probably the most famous part of the race; impressive, but not the hardest part. The “vet and go” check points were also something new to me, as we don’t have this system in Europe, nor in the Middle East. I really like this system, and I am sure it would be interesting to expand it to some races abroad. It gives more responsibility to the riders. After Foresthill, I went alone, following my horse’s speed on a very nice track, but what a surprise and scare when we started the canyons. I had always imagined the canyons to be as they are in the cowboy movies, red and desert … I didn’t realize we were not in the picturesque Grand Canyon! This was the most personally challenging part. I have a huge fear of heights. Many people told me that parts of the track were very narrow and sinuous, and believe me, they were right! The drop-off is hundreds and hundreds of meters down. Climbing up is another challenge altogether. The canyons are never ending; once you are down, you have to climb back up again, and so on. My horse and I were already confident with each other, and I just gave him the reins to let him do his thing, trying to walk/run anytime I could. I was lucky to be surrounded by the wonderful Global endurance team and blessed to ride such a brave horse as RR Jazz Dancer (Za River Dance x RR Zilla), called Pinky. I trusted him since the beginning thanks to his confidence on the track and his gentle attitude, but he earned my entire trust by the way he managed Cougar Rock. What a professional horse! This race is the ultimate horseman challenge. It is really hard; at one point in the race I remember wondering, “Why am I doing this sport?” Even though I tried to prepare myself as much as I could (it is around 50 degrees Celsius in Dubai during the summer) by running, walking in the dunes (the sand is a very good training tool, but it is still not the same as running in the mountains) and riding everyday, I suffered. I found “my wall” quite early in the race, a few miles before the first vet gate at Foresthill. But once I got past that feeling, I enjoyed every single moment with my horse, trying to engrave the beautiful landscapes and all of the feelings that I felt into my memory. We were unfortunately pulled at Foresthill – 34 miles before the end, after 16 hours and 30 minutes. But I will never forget this first experience, and I will get my Tevis revenge very soon. I hope to attract young riders through these difficult races like Tevis. It makes you see what we tend to forget nowadays — it’s an individual sport performed by a couple: man and horse. It gives you an endless respect and appreciation of the ones who give us everything — our horses. 135 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2017

Claire Godwin, DVM, from Maryland, and Serene Zeliza (Bold Soldier x SKF Kadance), above, completed in ninth place with a course time of 16 hours 47 minutes one second. This makes the fifth Tevis completion for her. Notably, her 26-year-old gelding PL Mercury (AM Autumn Mead x Playland Lady), right, completed in 74th place with Lisa Bykowski aboard. Merc, as the gelding is called, was the oldest horse entered and was trailered from Maryland to California along with Serene Zeliza. So, not only did the senior horse complete the grueling Tevis course, but also weathered the grueling trip across the U.S. to compete!

Ninety-two competitors completed the ride, with 60 finishing in the last 1 ¼ hour! “It looked like a train coming in from 4:00 a.m. to 5:07 a.m., when the last rider completed,” said Chuck Stalley. “They were nose to tail crossing the finish line. Throughout the day the frontrunners were spaced so that they had no dust, no problem getting to the water troughs, and no backup getting to a veterinarian. But it was apparent from that very first check there would be a problem with the majority getting bunched up and thus overtime into some vet checks. So I made a half hour cut-off extension at Robinson Flat and 15-minute extensions for the next two stops. This helped them get back on pace for the last three checks with no extensions and they made the 5:15 finish.” For Tenney, it was a very bittersweet goodbye when Rusty reclaimed Far after the race. “It was anticlimactic driving home without him in the trailer behind me. But I know Rusty missed him wholeheartedly while I had him, and I know he’s happy to have that gorgeous goofball back in his pasture at home.” Rusty delivered Far to Tennessee’s Colorado ranch a couple of months before Tevis, where she got to know Far. “I packed in as much last-minute mountain training as possible

My Tevis Adventure BY DARICE WHYTE

When I finished the Tevis ride in 2016, I said I was good, I had my buckle, and I didn’t need to ride that trail again. I was quite beaten up after a kick to the face from the horse in front of me, a fall onto the trail, and then having my leg stepped on as my horse “Tia” clawed her way back onto the trail. I hurt in so many places and was just happy to have survived the ordeal. Well, about three days later, I began to think about where I could have done things differently, and thus the thought of how could I try it again began to form. I knew I couldn’t afford to take Tia back to the ride this year as it is expensive to haul a horse for four days, and Tia was injured in early May so taking her to Tevis wasn’t an option. I don’t have another 100-mile horse, and leasing a horse wasn’t in the cards for me. I then started to think well, what else could I do? I didn’t see any requests for jugglers — not that I can juggle. I knew I would suck at crewing and it would just make me jealous that I wasn’t riding, so I thought about maybe taking pictures. I put up a post on the Tevis crew and rider group on Facebook to find out what the rules were regarding photographers. I’m not a professional, nor did I want to step on anybody’s toes, but it’s something I thought I would enjoy. Crystal 136 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2017

(continued on page 138)

Turnage, the head of Tevis photography, contacted me and asked if I wanted to be a part of the group that did pictures for the live feed, and just like that, a plan was put into motion. I have a friend, Diane Roberts, who I met through Facebook, who was game to pick me up from the airport and house me for several days during my stay. I arrived late Wednesday night, and the next morning Diane and I headed over to the fairgrounds to see the horses and riders. I wandered down the trail and took some pictures of riders heading out to ride the last part of the trail that comes into Auburn for the finish. As I wandered down the trail, I marveled at how my horse actually made it down this trail in the dark without a face plant! The trail isn’t exactly user friendly, and I had several rather large stumbles. Apparently I suck as an endurance horse. I met up with several riders as I wandered the trail, and I’m not going to lie, I was jealous that I wasn’t riding too. Sigh. As I headed back to the comfort of air conditioning, I felt somewhat guilty. I felt like I was being a bit of a slacker by not weathering the elements in a flapping hot tent. A trip to the ice cream shop quickly wiped that thought from my brain. It was decided that we would be stationed at Red Star, the first vet stop about 20 miles into the trail. I would do pictures, and Diane would be one of the in timers.

On Friday, we headed up to the Red Star location. It was quite a different view, as I hadn’t seen this territory or been on this road before. The dirt road that we had to take from Robinson Flats to Red Star was teeth rattling, but we eventually made it to the Red Star location. When I stepped out of the vehicle I thought, “Wow! This really looks different than I remember.” Turns out it did look different, as it was a different Red Star stop. OK then. I thought I’d follow the trail to find a good spot to set up for pictures. First, I made sure there were no rattlesnakes in the area, or anything else that would be harmful to my health. As I trudged up the path I realized that the going here was tough too and that I’m

Above: Laura Hayes on Rushcreek Seth (Comar Raphael x Rushcreek Jenny) leads a colorful pack of riders. Left: Lindsay Fisher and Monk. Center: Tennessee Lane and Auli Farwa.

definitely not used to climbing hills! I made it to a lovely spot where I would be able to see the horses coming in. Mission accomplished! We had a lovely potluck supper, and then everybody went to bed early as we knew it would be an early start. I’d like to say I slept like a baby, but more like a baby who was jacked up on Red Bull! When it was time to get up I felt like I’d had about five minutes of sleep — but off I went to my chosen spot. Turns out I made it to my spot in ample time as it was over two hours before the first horse showed up. By the third horse, I thought I might cry. The emotion running through me was overwhelming. I wanted to be out there too! So I had a stern talking to myself and said, “Focus on what you’re doing and not on what you’re not doing.” That worked. It is wonderful to watch these fine athletes pass by. Some of the front-runners looked like they had done one mile, not 20. They looked fresh, and were eating up the trail. Some of the later ones looked a bit shell shocked, and I bet they wondered exactly how much further they had to go. Waves of horses passed by me with clouds of dust accompanying them. I had trouble finding all the horses in the group because of these dust clouds. I liked it when there was a bit of time between riders so some of the dust could settle. I was surprised at how many were riding on their

own, but I guess all riders have a strategy. Many of the riders thanked me for coming out and taking their picture, whereas others didn’t even seem to notice me. Once all the riders were through, I journeyed back down the trail, and off we headed to Foresthill for the second mandatory hold. On our way, we passed by Robinson Flats, the first mandatory hold. It looked like a mad house! There were cars parked down the road for miles. Crew, volunteers, and vets were milling about, waiting on the first riders to come in. I wish I could have stopped there too, however I wasn’t (continued on next page)

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Tevis Adventure

(continued)

assigned to that stop, so we continued on. At Foresthill, it was a long wait for the first horses to come in. Lucky for me there was shopping. I found a few must-haves, and then I wandered around for a bit to see what I could see. I chatted with a few people and learned a few stories about the rider they were waiting on. There were some disappointments as crew members learned their rider had been pulled at an earlier stop, but that sometimes happens on a ride like Tevis. The crowds at Foresthill are completely amazing. They line the street to clap, whistle, and shout encouragement to the tired riders. Crews run up to greet their riders, all the while stripping tack, spraying, and sponging their rider’s horse. It’s a beehive of activity, and very interesting to watch the various cooling methods the crews use. The first horse to arrive was “Monk”, and holy smokes! He looked like he was at the start of the ride, not almost 70 miles in. He trotted up the hill with a huge groundcovering stride, and once again I felt like crying. Oh what a sap I am — but OK, I was tired. Next to come was “Far”, the eventual winner. He too looked like he had a ton left in the tank. What amazing athletes these horses are. Interestingly enough, both of these horses have four white feet. The old cowboy adage about feeding a horse with four white feet to the crows sure doesn’t apply here! The riders kept coming and I continued to take pictures until the light was too dim to take anymore. It was a very, very different experience taking pictures rather than riding. It was fun to be a part of the Tevis experience, even if just in a small way. Although I did have better access to ice cream and I didn’t have to live in a tent for a week, I sure know which I’d rather do! Tevis is ridiculously addicting, and I can see why people come back year after year whether they’re a rider, crew, vet, or volunteer. If Tia is able and I can somehow squeeze, stretch, and pinch my pennies, I’m coming back. It’s far too exciting not to. 138 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2017

Diane Stevens and Banderaz LC (Jazzman DGL x Zordosa), aka Titan, going through Foresthill. The pair completed in 10th place with a ride time of 16 hours 56 minutes.

before resting up for the big trip,” she says. “I didn’t really have to change my plan much. I had been planning to ‘go for it’ on Bluff, so all my preparation and crew, etc., stayed the same. We just all had to get to know Far, who is a different creature than Bluff. They have different strengths and weaknesses so little adjustments needed to be made as far as crewing along the trail goes. Regardless, the whole trip out to California and the weekend all went exactly according to plan. We were all confident: Far, my crew, and myself, and the best thing was that we were all confident in each other. “That last bit of very important glue didn’t really come together until the day before Tevis. That is when Far and I really, truly ‘clicked’ on our last warmup ride. I pretty much knew we had it in the bag after that ride. “We had been training hard together for months but honestly, he’s an amazing horse and I know how to ride but, but we hadn’t had that perfect moment yet. I can’t explain it, but we came together. There was a drastic change in how we

moved together on the trail at speed. We became very efficient and fluid. I was absolutely without a doubt confident in Far and I could tell he felt the same way about me. We knew we could take care of each other, keep up with each other, and trust each other completely. That’s a huge deal because at Tevis, Far’s life is literally in my hands and my life is literally in Far’s ‘hands’. To be able to gallop, not a little canter, but a gallop, on a single-track trail with a sheer drop off on one side in the pitch black dark is amazing trust between horse and rider. The communication at that point is 100 percent visceral, with zero room for error. Far was absolutely flawless. He and I communicated very well all day, and it showed. “Rusty had intercepted Far and me along with my crew at several key points during the ride. I could tell he was trying desperately not to interfere with our program but was obviously tearfully excited as Far and I forged our way toward the finish in the front of the pack. It was always invigorating and reassuring to see him so excited for us. Far looked amazing the whole way. Rusty was beside himself at the finish line, so were my parents, and so many others that were connected with Far and Kevin. “I will never forget that ride for so many reasons. What a monumental and symbolic victory. We have so much to live for, so much to be thankful for, so much love to give. I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to develop a relationship with Far and to win the Tevis Cup aboard him. What an amazing experience!”

If there were a Sportsmanship Award, Brian Reome no doubt would be the recipient. Finishing in 90th place on his mule Hondo, Brian was hailed as a hero for saving not one but two separate riders/ horses along the trail. The first incident was immediately after the Swinging Bridge. A rider had dismounted on the narrow trail when the horse refused to go forward. The horse stepped back and rolled down the side of the steep hill. Brian dismounted and went down after the horse. As soon as he untangled the reins from its legs, it ended up rolling down more, close to the lower switchback trail. Brian reached it again, took measures to stop the bleeding of the scraped knees and then led it out of the canyon where it was treated and hauled to the finish line along with the rider. The next incident was just out of Deadwood. “I was off leading my mule through the canyon,” Brian said. “If I hadn’t been looking down at where I was placing my feet, I wouldn’t have seen the rider down below hanging on to a tree. The trail was only about 1½ feet wide with a steep drop off. I had to go forward to find a wider spot to tie up my mule, Hondo. I then slid down to the rider, a 120-pound woman who was about to give out from her fall and hanging on for dear life. It took about 10 minutes to get her back up on the trail where I put her on Hondo and lead them into Michigan Bluff. Apparently her saddle was loose and she fell off and over the side of the trail. The horse continued on without her. Her horse had safely made it to Michigan Bluff.”

Ride Director Chuck Stalley said, “We (Tevis committee) extended Brian’s cut off time at Foresthill because he chose to help others at the risk of losing his completion. He spent at least 20 minutes in the service of others. He’s a big guy, 200 pounds and his mule is big and just the kindest mule. He actually caught up with his friends at Lowery Quarry! He had no problem and finished with 10 minutes to spare at 5:05 a.m. “ (The 24-hour time limit ends at 5:15 a.m.) Pictured with Brian is Erin Glassman on PS Arikaree Bask (Awesome Knight x PS Trakara Bask) who completed in 91st place.

2017 Tevis Top Ten Finishers 1

Tennessee Lane..........Auli Farwa (FV Aul Fancy Free x Winchester Silkie).......14 hr 45 min

Lindsay Fisher ............Monk, an unregistered Arabian...................................14 hr 57 min

Jeremy Reynolds ........Treasured Moments (DA Adios x Hidden Treasure) .......15 hr 54 min BC

Karen Donley .............Royal Patron (Monarch AH [*Wiking] x Pink Beaches) 16 hr 18 min

Wasch Blakeley .........RA Ares Bey (Must Bey Dreamin x RBS Aalani Mist) .....16 hr 34 min

Gabriela Blakeley .......LLC Pyros Choice (Pyro Thyme SA x TC Kharieta) ........16 hr 34 min

Alison Farrin...............Shalimar Yukon (Shalimar Brio x Brown R Yasmeen) ...16 hr 34 min

Melissa Ribley, DVM ...RM Ever Ready (Amazing Son x Vironica) ...................16 hr 47 min

Claire Godwin, DVM....Serene Zeliza (Bold Soldier x SKF Kadance) ................16 hr 47 min

10 Diane Stevens ............Banderaz LC (Jazzman DGL x Zordosa) .....................16 hr 56 min

Six juniors started the course and all six completed. Mollie Quiroz is pictured crossing the swinging bridge at mile 50 on Stars The Limite (No Limite x BC Starla Fix). Quiroz successfully completed in 77th place in 21 hours 37 minutes.

139 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b SEPTEMBER 2017

There were 15 veterinarians working the event. Mike Peralez, DVM,pictured at right, Head Veterinarian, said, “The Tevis riders and their horses are part of a big family. This year, the riders came from 19 states and nine foreign countries. Every one of them has a story and a reason they want to ride Tevis. For many riders, the Tevis ride is an annual summer family tradition. For others, the Tevis is part of their bucket list. “Overall, the horses and riders performed well. The finishing percentage was slightly higher than normal. This was a reflection of the cooler weather and good horsemanship. In other words, the new tough trail section was offset by cool rainy weather early in the ride. The riders were taking good care of their horses and riding conservatively on the new section before Robinson Flat. On the ‘new’ trail, the riders had to travel for miles down Red Star Ridge and then descend into Duncan Canyon before climbing out to Robinson Flat. This was all single-track trail so that riders were in long, dusty lines that made passing difficult. “The day went well for our vet teams. All of the veterinarians are very experienced endurance vets; most have years of Tevis Cup experience. We were amazed at the cool, wet weather. Normally, the Tevis Cup is hot with temperatures in the low 100s in the canyons. This year was mild.”