2011 Tevis Cup in Pictures

Monday October 10 2011

It was a an amazing feat - changing the complete start and approximately first 62 miles of the 2011 Tevis Cup trail because of the early winter snowstorm, with less than 36 hours to go before the start at 6:30 AM on Saturday October 8. Think not only of all the riders that had to be contacted (who were scattered all up and down the I-80 corridor from Winnemucca, Nevada to Sacramento, California, since nobody could get into Robie Park because of snow), but the 700 volunteers, at least 3/4 of whose locations and duties were changed. 179 riders still showed up (only 7 cancelled) and everything ran pretty darn smoothly. Only one person is rumored to have fallen off a cliff, but didn't fall far and was okay (horse was unhurt), and the completion rate was an outstanding 70%.

I didn't go out on the trail at all, just caught the start of the ride (see video here, and hung out at Foresthill, which was both the first hour hold and second hour hold, then went back at the finish at Auburn.

Story coming, but here are a few photos from the day and the day after.


Rachel Shackelford and BR Cody de Soi (2nd place finishers) cooling down at the first Foresthill vet check.


A group of horses and riders come in together to Foresthill and head straight for the water troughs to drink and get cooled down.


Bev Gray and Jolly Sickle trotting out at Foresthill. Bev and Jolly won the Big Horn 100 in Wyoming in July, and were second in the 100-mile AERC National Championship in New Mexico in August. I thought they might just be going for a win at the Tevis this year, but Bev rode conservatively, and they finished in 26th.


A horse getting shod while eating and resting at the first Foresthill vet check.


Nick and his beloved Don. They finished 57th. Nick now has 5 buckles - but for Nick, it's not about him. It's about his horse. Don is his Heart Horse. "My long-range goal is for Don to get 10 buckles. Now that would be an accomplishment. Not many horses have done that!" Don and Nick have now completed 3 Tevis rides together, and Nick's wife Judy rode him to a completion. Don is 4 for 4. He's got a lot of good years ahead of him. "When you have a horse like this, riding him is so much fun!"


This horse already wears his own Tevis buckle!


The Norwegian Fjord so many people were rooting for to finish! When Brandy Ferganchick and Fawn Creek Thor (aka Dodger) arrived at the finish line at 5:21 AM, it was announced that Dodger was the first Norwegian Fjord to ever complete the Tevis! "Brandy took her time and did what it took to take care of her horse and get him through the ride," said one of her crew members from Colorado.


Checking the pulse before entering the pulse box.


An old friend from the past - Shelley Bridges! She got me started in (and addicted to) endurance in 1998. She rode a stallion, Xtreme Impact - who had something very important to say during his vet exam. Shelley and Impact got pulled at the Lower Quarry at 90 miles. Argh!


Kevin Waters and DE Golden Ali going for their 3rd buckle together. They got it! Finished 19th at 10:12 PM.


Japanese rider Hiromi Kitaike, going for her 2nd buckle with Fire Mt Odyssey (one of my old pals) - they finished again, at 3:11 AM!


Odyssey is starving! Eating hay from owner Jackie Bumgardner's hands while walking to see the vets.


These 2 men - Dr Gregg Fellers, Head Veterinarian, and Ride Director Chuck Stalley - had to be under a heckofalot of pressure - but they never showed it! I think Chuck's motto is: when the going gets tough, tell a lot of great stories!


Dennis Summers and OMR Tsunami - they had a several minute lead coming into Vet Check 1... but dropped a few minutes behind Jeremy and Rachel coming into Vet Check 2. They ended up finishing 3rd - Dennis backed off because he didn't feel like pushing her on this day to try to catch the other two. Dennis loves his mare Lola.


Haggin Cup - Best Condition - judging next morning for the Top Ten finishers. This is Heather Reynolds showing Riverwatch, with rider and husband Jeremy - they are Reynolds Racing - looking on. Jeremy and Riverwatch finished first with a ride time of 10 hours and 31 minutes.


Riverwatch and Heather trotting out. Riverwatch won the Haggin Cup! That's him up top receiving the award.


The Fury (last year's Haggin Cup winner) and Garret Ford (5th place) trotting out. Well, The Fury is galloping. He's always full of himself and puts on a good show!



Shellie Hatfield and Splashes Maskrade (Elmo). They finished 7th.


Yes, 9th place finisher Laura Yost is not tall, and OT El Din RSI (El Din) is not short. They make a powerful pair! El Din is one from the line of Crockett Dumas' Outlaw Trail horses.


10th place horse Tallahassee (Tally, owned by Tom Christoph, is being shown by Shannon's dad Jay), ridden by Shannon Constanti. It's Shannon's second Top Ten Tevis finish in a row (last year was 2nd place on John Crandell's LR Bold Greyson). Tally is a National Show Horse - half Arabian, half American Saddlebred. Look at that long back! Look at that long stride! Shannon says Tally can be a bit... "challenging" to ride... but when he hits his 18 mph fast trot, he's smooth as silk to ride.

Many more photos and a couple of videos at:
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2011Tevis/

2011 Tevis Cup Vet In

Friday October 7 2011

Due to too much snow at Robie and in the high country, the start of Tevis was moved to the Auburn Fairgrounds - same place as the finish. It was odd seeing all the horses vet in there!

The horses will follow the normal Tevis trail in the opposite direction to Foresthill (38 miles) and Chicken Hawk (at 42 miles) then do a 15 miles out-and-back 'loop' to Chickenhawk, Foresthill, and back to Auburn. There won't be as much climbing and descending as usual (as in, 19,000 feet of climbing, 23,000 feet of descent), but I don't think it's going to be as 'easy' as some people are sort of dissing it to be. On Thursday, ride management considered cancelling the ride; 24 hours ago they had no trail, now they have a trail for the 180ish riders and horses. They've done a phenomenal job getting this all together. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I predict the finish percentage will be about the same - 50% (maybe 60%) - because I think some riders may underestimate the course. When I rode Tevis in 2009, I recall there being 100 miles of rock underfoot! That rock will still be there. And, about half the cliffs will still be there, and since half the trail will be done twice, there are just about as many cliffs to ride along!

A few shots from today's vet in for the 2011 Tevis Cup.


Australian Jennifer Gilbertson, riding in her first Tevis.


Kevin and Far, going for their 2nd buckle together. Far nearly tore his front foot off in 2007.


You don't see too many of this breed at Tevis. A Norwegian Fjord trotting out. Fawn Creek Thor will be ridden by Brandi Ferganchick.


Nick and Forever Dawn - 4 buckles for Nick, 3 buckles for Don
(and Nick and Don carried The Raven to a finish last year!)


12-year-old Barrak Blakeley in his first Tevis Cup. He's riding with his mom Gabriela.


Heather Reynolds, 3-buckle recipient, 1-time winner and 2-time Haggin Cup winner. She's riding Heir Express.


Tevis legend and 27-buckle holder Hal Hall and Dreamm On.


Tevis legend Barbara White, going for her 31st buckle! She's riding Canadian Brook, who finished carrying Barbara last year.


Dr Carter Hounsel vetting in a happy rider's horse.


Pam Bailie, 2 buckles, and Macy, 1 buckle (also pictured up top).


Garrett Ford and The Fury - last year's Haggin Cup (Best Condition) winner... and his future riding partner!


Riders Crockett Dumas - an endurance legend and 5-time Tevis finisher - and Colton Medeiros, 12 years old, in his first Tevis.

Off to the Tevis!

 

Thursday October 6 2011

I'm off to the Tevis Cup (to report, not ride!), where about 8" of snow has fallen since yesterday. It should make the trail for around 190 horses and riders rather... interesting. Ride management says, The Ride Is Still On! Start time is scheduled for 5:15 AM Saturday.

I'll be quite giddy around snow, anyway! Stay tuned for photos and stories!

Celebrating is Downright Dangerous and Fun

Note from Merri: I'm still trying to catch up from my last trip to the NAETC, from riding in our Owyhee Canyonlands ride, wandhile getting ready to go to Tevis (while watching the weather!).

Meanwhile, guest blogger Connie has stopped by to give her impressions of our Owyhee Canyonlands ride together.


Wednesday October 5 2011

I appreciate Merri letting me be a guest writer. I am not just a day guest; we go way back, say 1988, when Merri and I worked for Ben Harris at Longacres racetrack. She groomed and I was an exercise rider. She said the hardest part of her job was legging me up on horses.*


We exchanged skills, passions, and interests over the years. I trained her to drive a horse carriage in Seattle, which she took over when I went on vacation. I also got her a job doing Northern Spotted owl monitoring.

And I will be forever grateful to her for inviting me out to Owyhee 4 years ago. She said there was a 5-day endurance ride, and Steph probably would have some extra horses for me to ride.

By this time, I hadn't hardly been riding since I walked away from the racetrack in 2001, burned out. I dreamed of horses. I would see them in pastures as I drove by and it was like seeing a long lost friend. After doing 2 amazing rides in Vanuatu, I vowed I would put more energy into having horses in my life again. Merri's invitation was a sign.

I showed up and I did ride. I did my first 50 mile ride on Merri's beloved Jose, and I rode Mac as well, and I did 2 LD's on Finneas, who won my heart - with his aggressive, bossy, forward attitude. He reminded me of the Thoroughbreds I galloped, and besides being a grandson of The Black Stallion (which everyone is tired of hearing about except me), he also has Thoroughbred blood.


So Merri got me here, and the rest is history. I bought 40 acres further up the creek, underground tunnels and all. It is a very warm, creative, energetic, lively space to be in the Owyhees. And the vast open spaces we are blessed with, we can walk out our doors and ride for miles and miles and miles in any direction. And that leads me up to the past 5 days.

Merri, Steph, Carol and I - the Creek Girls - all planned to try and ride all 5 days on our horses, 50 miles each day. I had never ridden 3 50's in a row. Merri is way ahead of me in miles and Steph even more, but it's not a competition. It's about doing what you love and enjoying doing it, however that plays out - trail riding, LDs, 50s or 100's.


Phinneas had never done more than 2 50's in a row; same for Jose, same for Carol's horse August. Rhett's last 5 days in a row was in 1998! - although he has over 5000 miles.

Carol, Merri and I finished Day 1 and 2 together. Unfortunately, Carol and August had to end the quest for not feeling well. Day 3, Merri and I set out alone and finished.

On Day 4, Merri and I had sightings of Steph and Rhett (how can you miss that tail), and Amanda and Batman - and they joined us in the fun. Jose and Phinneas and Rhett and Batman zipped along together along the snake-like irrigation canal, a smooth fast ride up to the Sinker Reservoir. It all looked to me like Mongolia, though I've never been there. We rode through lower Sinker Canyon together, then split up after the vet check, and we all finished. That made 4 days in a row for me, Merri, and Steph.


Day 5 - Merri and Jose, and me and Phinneas went out together. We shared a few miles with 5-day team Nance and Jasbo, and another 5-day team Karen and Thunder, but mostly it was just us 2 Creek Girls and our horses. By this day we knew we would finish; we knew our horses were still strong and energetic, and we were getting more giddy the closer we got to home.

Then I had this great idea!

I like doing handstands in beautiful places, to celebrate life - places like the Taj Mahal, Macchu Picchu, high passes in Nepal, Mt Rainier. I convinced Merri too, because this was no small feat our horses had (almost) accomplished.

Merri said she 'couldn't do handstands,' and I said 'of course you can.'

Our trail took us up this narrow knife ridge that climbs out of Hart Creek. The perfect spot for a handstand - because it's mostly downhill now to the finish from here. Down below, there is a beautiful view of what we just rode through. It is a bit narrow though. It may be a tricky landing coming off a handstand.

Well we gave it our best, much to the horror and shock of our horses. I went first, because it was my idea, and I have the most experience with such things. And yes, not to brag, I have to say I performed a fairly good handstand, legs fairly upright and together.**


However, my landing went amiss somehow, not a desired follow up, in fact a bit dismal. And Merri of course documented it all, so I have to fess up. That is the problem with riding with Merri, for better or worse you may find yourself the subject or a bit player in her blog.



But turn around is fair play. And after seeing my performance, I'm sure Merri was intimidated,*** or she was right, she can't do handstands.****


And I'm here to say, as she is accusing me, I DID NOT MISS THE SHOT.***** She did give a gallant effort, twice, and her legs never made it more than 3/4 of the way up, or together, but nor did she fall in a body heap.



But these minor details are really not important. We're not at the Olympics, we did it, our secret celebration with our horses, close to the end of Day 5, on the narrow ridge about Hart Creek Canyon.

And that is what life is about sometimes, just showing up, doing your best, giving it your all. We did, and especially our horses did.

Back at the finish line, upon our vet completions, there were cheers, hugs, and congratulations all around. Steph and Rhett were waiting, already finished, and Carol was there too. The Creek Girls and their steeds - All for One and One for All.

*Merri's note: Linda thinks it's hard too, as she shoves Connie into the saddle on Day 5 of the Owyhee Canyonlands!
**Merri's note: And I timed it perfectly with the camera!
***Merri's note: Not!
****Merri's note: Definitely can't!
*****Merri's note: That is debatable!

Bling For Jose!

Tuesday October 4 2011

Liz and Neil Smallwood, managers of the Old Selam endurance ride, came all the way out to our Owyhee Canyonlands 5-day ride just to have dinner and visit one night, and to give out a few awards from their ride that didn't get handed out there.

One was for JOSE VIOLA!

We'd finished 10th in the 50, and showed for Best Condition, though we had no shot at that (BC is based on vet scores of condition, on the CRI - cardiac recovery index, weight carried, and finish time) - we really showed just to do it and because I was able to trot Jose out all the way to the cone!

On the final results tabulations, Jose had tied for High Vet Score (which doesn't take weight or finish time into account)!! Jose's name had just been overlooked, and I didn't find out till after the ride. Just knowing he got High Vet Score was exciting enough, but Liz and Neil had brought an award for him - a cool Rhythm Bead Necklace! Red, of course, for Jose's favorite color.


Additionally, for his 5-day Best Condition award here at the Owyhee Canyonlands, he was awarded a new bridle/breastcollar/reins donated by Nancy Mitts at Stablegear Tack.


I think it all looks pretty smashing on him, but then, I might be a bit biased.

: )