The Equestrian Vagabond: 100 Miles One Day

Showing posts with label 100 Miles One Day. Show all posts

Friday, July 6, 2018

BIG HORN BOUND

Saturday July 7 2018

What with a very busy June, and with one thing and another coming up lately, and being semi-whiny-worried about the heat and migraines and stamina, I've been conveniently ignoring the fact that we're headed for the BIG HORN 100 in Wyoming on July 14.

But now departure day is 5 days away, so it's kind of hard to keep ignoring it.

Connie's riding DWA Saruq, I'm riding Sarah's horse Dezzie, since she can't be here; Regina our Big Horn Guru is hauling us there and crewing for us (yay!). 3 more Idaho peeps are planning to caravan there with us.

Our horses are sound and fit, their last ride being a hard and fast 55 at City of Rocks on June 8.

Me? I'm fairly fit, but… for 100 miles? And for (my nemesis) the heat?

I think I'll just continue to ignore that part of the equation for now, but it is time to think about starting to pack.

I haven't done a 100 miler since my Tevis Cup Magic in 2009 - almost 10 years! - and I probably haven't pulled an all-nighter for anything since then, either! I've never done the Big Horn, but if I did do another 100, this is the one I'd want to do.

So, I reckon it's time for me to face the facts and admit it and put it out there: it's official! We are bound for the Big Horn 100 starting line (knock on wood).

Saturday, July 27, 2013

2013 Tevis Cup

Saturday July 20 2013

75 of the 160 horse/rider pairs finished this year's hot Tevis Cup across the Sierra Nevada mountains. The finishing rate is usually around 50% for this tough 100-mile ride; this year's heat - the canyons were rumored to be 118°F - had a hand in this year's below-average rate.

5th place finisher Kevin Myers, riding Auli Farwa, called the ride "hellishly hot and humid."

Even as a reporter for Endurance.net, the heat fried my brain, especially since I had a cold (! - ridiculous!) to boot. I erased all my photos, from TWO cameras, that I took at Robinson Flat, the first hour hold vet check at 36 miles, and I don't remember doing it. Alas.

But here are some photos from Foresthill, the second hour-hold at 68 miles.

Up top:
Eventual 13th place finisher Willemina De Boer and Frisia Mameluk leave Foresthill.

The 'Two Jennies,' Jennifer Waitte riding M Dash Czoe, and Jenni Smith riding M Dash Stellar (both mares owned by Waitte), arrive in first place at Foresthill. The two would end up finishing 2nd and 3rd in Auburn at 10:29 PM, 17 minutes after the winner.

Amanda and Leslie crewing Kevin Myers' Auli Farwa at Foresthill. They finished 5th, at 10:58 PM.

Auli Farwa has such an expressive face!

Winners Rusty Toth and Take a Break trotting out for the vets at Foresthill.

Eventual 2nd place finisher Jennifer Waitte and M Dash Czoe trotting through 'downtown' Foresthill in first place on the last third of the Tevis trail.

Rusty Toth and Take a Break, and Kevin Myers and Auli Farwa canter out of 'downtown' Foresthill in 2nd and 3rd place, 2 minutes behind Waitte.

Karen Donley (with her son John, not pictured) canter out of 'downtown' Foresthill in 5th and 6th place, 8 minutes behind Waitte.

Eventual 8th place finishers - and Haggin Cup (Best Condition) winners - Sue Hedgecock and LZP Julioslastchance wait to leave Foresthill.

I love this picture of Karen Chaton (34,000+ endurance miles) and her horse Probono D at Foresthill vet check. Karen is always smiling. They finished in 25th place at 4:26 AM, for Karen's 5th Tevis buckle and Bo's 3rd.

An exciting sign: If you see this from the back of your horse, that means you have completed 2/3 of the Tevis trail, and are heading out of Foresthill on your last third!

The Magic Tevis Dust, which nobody ever seems to want to wash off their vehicles. (including me! it's still on there)

For the full Tevis stories, see:

Part I http://merritravels.endurance.net/2013/07/the-mythical-tevis-cup-2013-part-i.html

Part 2: http://merritravels.endurance.net/2013/07/the-mythical-tevis-cup-2013-part-2.html

For more photos and eventual videos, see:
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2013Tevis/

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

2013 Tevis Cup: Vet In Day

Tuesday July 23 2013

It's that time of year again: the 100 Miles in 1 Day Tevis Cup that goes from near Lake Tahoe, Nevada, to Auburn, California, over the Sierra Nevada mountains.

This year was Hot and Dusty, as opposed to almost every other Hot and Dusty Tevis Cups. (Though this year, it was really hot.)

It was the usual frenetic, chaotic, amazing, insane ride albeit with about 50 fewer riders than normal (160 started).

Here are a few pictures from Friday's vet in day at Robie park at approximately 7500' in the Sierra Nevadas. More photos, and stories can be seen soon at www.Endurance.net.

Up top:
A veterinarian watches Gabrielle Mann trot out her horse Tiki Chaps Ku. Gabrielle and Tiki would finish 22nd, at 2:34 AM.

Karen Chaton (34,000+ AERC miles) and Bo (Pro Bono D) take a warm-up ride. They would finish 25th this year, at 2:46 AM, for Karen's 5th Tevis and Bo's 3rd.

Dave Rabe (56,000+ AERC miles) is holding a Tevis Angel that Karen Chaton got to give to another rider. Karen gave me a Tevis Angel for my 2009 Tevis ride, and it got me through. I will pass my Tevis Angel on to another rider one day! Dave has recovered from a severe head injury (fell off a horse, hit his helmet-less head). He has returned to the endurance trails riding, and he came to crew at this year's Tevis. So good to see him back!

The incomparable Barbara White (32 Tevis Buckles) trotting out Djubilee. Alas, they pulled at Foresthill (68 miles) for 'surface factors'. Barbara had a wreck on Monday that hurt her knee and bruised some ribs, which affected her seat, which affected Djubilee's back. They'll both be fine, and I'm sure Barbara is already thinking ahead to next year's Tevis!

Bev Gray (18,000 AERC miles) and Jolly Sickle warming up. They finished 9th, and Jolly Sickle is now 38 for 38 and has his second Tevis buckle.

The incomparable Joyce Sousa and LV Integrity. In short: Joyce has over 22,000 AERC miles. "Ritzy" has over 8000 miles. This was their 4th Tevis together. Ritzy is 20 years old. (To see more on this amazing pair, see http://merritravels.endurance.net/2013/05/2013-owyhee-fandango.html .) They finished in 35th place at 3:35 AM. Just. Wow.

Stablemates Far and Quake. Far (with Kevin Myers) finished 5th. Quake (with Rusty Toth) won!

Rusty Toth trotting out Take a Break (Quake). They won! (And Rusty won the Haggin Cup last year on Stoner).

Kevin Myers (9000 AERC+ AERC miles) trotting out Auli Farwa (Far). This horse recovered from a near career-ending ankle injury when he was just starting his endurance career at age 5. He's now completed 51 of 51 rides, and 11 of 11 100-milers. Wow.

Juniors had fun, though only 3 of the 12 starting juniors finished. Sanoma Blakeley (the bottom one), finished in 42nd place at 3:55 AM with her parents, riding Taii Myr. Alas, her junior brother Barrak pulled, or the whole family would have finished!

More to come!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

The 57th Tevis and Haggin Cup!

Sunday August 5 2012

Just a few pictures from Saturday's Tevis Cup. It was epic!

Above is a rider emerging from the dust at 42 miles!

These are the canyons that the riders traverse on their way to Auburn from the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Kevin and Far trotting out at Robinson Flat vet check at 36 miles.

Two riders on a very dusty trail at 42 miles.

The leaders coming into Robinson Flat at 36 miles.

Heather Reynolds' crew cooling Sturgess off at Robinson Flat vet check.

Aussie Duncan taking care of Cyclone at Robinson Flat. Cyclone and Lisa Ford finished second!

Hal Hall and CR Rohbellion at 42 miles. They finished 66th - Hal's 29th Tevis completion!

Rusty Toth and Farraba (Stoner), Far (and Kevin hidden) and crew at Michigan Bluff, about 60 miles.

Garrett Ford and The Fury trot out at Foresthill vet check. They finished 1st!

Rusty Toth and Farraba (Stoner) leaving Foresthill for the last 32 miles. They won the Haggin Cup! (Best Condition)

Barbara White and Canadian Brook - they finished 31st - Barbara's 32nd Tevis completion!

Junior Barrak Blakely trotting out at Foresthill. His horse vetted in lame on Friday; his mom gave him her horse to ride. His sponsor - dad - got pulled at Robinson Flat. Garrett and Lisa Ford took Barrak on. Barrak's horse had shoe trouble at a trot-by vet check, so another sponsor picked him up while Garrett and Lisa went on. I believe that sponsor got pulled at Foresthill so another one picked him up. He was still in the top ten. At the Lower Quarry, at 92 miles, his horse was pulled for lameness. ARGH!!! But what an adventure! Barrak's a great kid and a great rider.