October 30, 2012
Contact Person: Teresa Bippen
Tbippen1957@yahoo.com
FOSH Gaited Distance Program
Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) is pleased to announce the first distance recognition program for gaited horses beginning in 2013. The Gaited Distance Program promotes FOSH Sound Principles by recording mileage of the gaited distance horses competing in veterinarian sanctioned, endurance, limited distance or competitive trail events and recognizes, honors and rewards the work of that horse. Each year’s program will run from January 1 through December 31.
The FOSH Gaited Distance Program (GDP) includes Competitive Trail Riding and Endurance Riding, Year-End High Mileage Awards, 1,000 Mile Awards, and the FOSH Commemorative Award Program. Winners will be announced in the FOSH Sound Advocate magazine, on the FOSH website and in press releases.
Many gaited horse breeds have provided smooth comfortable rides for their riders while successfully competing in distance riding programs. Some of these breeds include the Tennessee Walking Horse, Spotted Saddle Horse, Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, Racking Horse, Paso Fino, Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses, Rocky Mountain Horse and more.
The Gaited Distance Program rules and forms are currently available at a newly developed FOSH website for individuals wishing to register their horses for 2013 competition. Both registered and unregistered gaited horses are eligible for participation. The website is open in advance of the January 1, 2013 start date to allow visitors to view the site and offer comments.
FOSH is pleased to announce that the Gaited Distance Program (GDP) is the first division under the FOSH Gaited Sport Horse initiative with the other divisions under development being Gaited Dressage and Gaited Equine Agility. As awards, eligibility and rules are developed for these divisions, they will be posted at www.foshgaitedsporthorse.com
FOSH is a national leader in the promotion of natural, sound gaited horses and in the fight against abuse and soring of Tennessee Walking Horses. For more information about FOSH or to become a member, please visit www.fosh.info or e-mail data@fosh.info .
Friday, November 02, 2012
Dream Jobs: Endurance Rider
© 2012 John Nowell, Remuda Photography
Equitrekking.com - Full Article
September 10, 2012
Champion endurance racer Darolyn Butler has made an equestrian career out of her passion for marathon rides.
by Karen Braschayko
Darolyn Butler has had a long career in several aspects of the equine industry, from winning rodeo queen pageants to selling Western wear and producing instructional videos on horsemanship. Today, she has knitted her love of endurance riding into a company of teaching clinics, leasing horses and training other endurance racers. From her ranch, Cypress Trails Equestrian Center north of Houston, Texas, she runs her family business, conditioning endurance horses while leading adventure trail rides and giving riding lessons.
Butler also uses her distance riding skills to serve the community. She helped form the Airport Rangers group at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), a unique program enabling fellow equestrians to enjoy hundreds of miles of pleasure trails while patrolling the vast airport grounds.
Butler began endurance riding at 31, when a trainer told her she should hurry up if she wanted to try it. Now 62, she has competed all over the Americas and on several continents in FEI endurance races. She has earned dozens of wins, including gold and silver medals, and has over 34,000 competitive miles under her saddle.
Having survived the devastation of two major floods and a shattered pelvis, Butler works as hard as ever. She travels widely and coaches other endurance riders. Here she tells us about conquering 100-mile races and the many ways to make a living with horses...
Read more here:
http://www.equitrekking.com/articles/entry/dream_jobs_endurance_rider/
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Want to Ride Endurance? Read "Endurance 101"!
Endurance-101.comFor immediate release:
Triangle Ranch Communications is proud to announce the release of the first book written specifically for beginning endurance riders. Endurance 101: a gentle guide to the sport of long-distance riding is told in a comfortable narrative style with plenty of informative stories and photos.
“This is the manual I wish I’d had when I was a new rider in the sport,” says author Aarene Storms. “I read every book, every magazine article, every listserv and webpage, even the fine print of tack catalogs, and I still made mistakes that I could have avoided with more guidance.”
Storms uses the lessons she has learned in ten plus years of competition and combines them with practical advice from other experienced endurance riders. Endurance 101 enables new endurance riders to make better decisions when choosing a horse and tack, and to make good choices when feeding, conditioning, and competing with a novice endurance horse.
Endurance legend and author Julie Suhr says, “I wish I had this book when I discovered endurance riding!” And Merri Melde, equestrian traveller and correspondent, calls Endurance 101 “the next best thing to a two-legged mentor, unravelling the mysteries of getting you and your horse to the starting line, through your first ride, and through what happens afterwards, always with the goals of caring properly for your horse and having fun.”
Riders seeking a straightforward, easy-to-read book will love Endurance 101’s mix of narrative and practical, step-by-step advice on everything from packing the trailer to keeping their horse sane, sound and safe through the conditioning process. Storm’s enthusiasm for her chosen sport will rapidly infect newcomers, and even experienced riders will be look at their riding and training routines with fresh eyes.
You won’t want to miss taking a ride in the company of Storms while dodging her nemesis, the Bad Idea Fairy, along the trail. Laugh and learn. Endurance 101 is the book you’ve been waiting for.
In the words of endurance powerhouse Dennis Summers, “Read this book, cinch er up tight and get er done!”
Author Information: An advocate for Junior riders, equestrian trails, and novice endurance horse and rider teams, Aarene Storms has published numerous articles in Endurance News and other equestrian sport publications. She has completed more than 2000 AERC miles on several horses, and currently competes on a tall, opinionated Standardbred mare called Fiddle. Her adventures in the saddle and on the ground are documented with tongue firmly in cheek at the Haiku Farm blog.
Photographer: Storms recruited a fellow blogger and rider Monica Bretherton and her stockpile of photos to help bring endurance riding to life. From post-ride grins to the intricate details of endurance tack and ride rituals, the images help to draw the reader into the world of long-distance riding.
Publication Information: Anticipated release date for the ebook edition is October 31, 2012, to be available from Amazon.com and other e-book retailers at the price of $9.99. A print edition to follow shortly thereafter, price to be announced.
Contact Information:For further information about the book or for press photographs, please contact Triangle Ranch Communications via publisher@triangleranch.com. Author Aarene Storms can be reached on the book’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Endurance101 or for bookings at booking@endurance-101.com
Time in saddle gives county woman rare feat to go along with ‘legs of steel’
Huntingtoncountrytab.com - Full ArticleBy: Cindy Klepper - Thursday, October 18, 2012
When Janet Kirkpatrick tells you she has "legs of steel," believe her.
The 74-year-old sticks out a well-toned gam -the result, she says, of the time she spends in the saddle.
"You're standing up the whole time," Kirkpatrick says. "And I think it helps the back, too."
She should know. A horse enthusiast her entire life, the Huntington County woman discovered endurance riding - a sport in which horse and rider race to finish trail rides of 25, 50 or 100 miles - in 1984. Fifteen years later, she became one of an elite group of endurance riders to log 5,000 competition miles on the same horse.
This summer, Kirkpatrick repeated that feat - piling up another 5,000 competition miles on a second horse.
"To do it on one horse is very unusual," she says. "To do it on two separate horses is just a dream."
In actuality, Kirkpatrick says she's probably accumulated three times her official miles - if you count in all the miles she's logged in training and just for pleasure.
"In the beginning of the year, I put in probably 300 miles just getting him ready to roll," she says.
Kirkpatrick's current equine companion - a purebred Arabian officially known as H.A. Highfire but answering to Booker - came into her life shortly after the unexpected death of another Arabian named Butch.
She and Butch had accumulated 6,168 competitive miles between 1990 and 2002, when the horse suddenly became ill and had to be euthanized.
"That was the longest night of my life," she says of Butch's death. "I held his head. I always told that horse I'd never let him hurt."
A friend connected her with Booker, an unbroken 4-year-old who "had never been out of the field he was born in." Another friend got Booker used to having a rider on his back, and Kirkpatrick spent some time playing with the horse before taking him to the woods for their first ride.
"He dumped me right off," she says...
Read more here:
http://www.huntingtoncountytab.com/feature/19057/time-saddle-gives-county-woman-rare-feat-go-along-%E2%80%98legs-steel%E2%80%99
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Effort to bring attention to horse abuse stirs up a dust storm of its own
Star-telegram.com - Full Article
Posted Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012
BY STEVE CAMPBELL
sfcampbell@star-telegram.com
A cowboy preacher form North Texas who set off in July to ride around the world to publicize horse abuse has ridden into a social media dust storm.
A vigilant Facebook posse of horse and long-distance riding enthusiasts are dogging CW Cooper's every move after he lost two horses to injuries, including one that broke its leg on a cattle guard and had to be shot last month near Alamogordo N.M., in the first 600 or so miles of his marathon ride.
Mounted on his sixth donated horse, Cooper, a 53-year-old air conditioning repairman and one-time country musician from the Parker County town of Bluff Dale, has doubled backed into West Texas.
He's also dumped the notion of trying to make it around the globe, and dropped the horse abuse angle.
He now says he's simply in the saddle for God.
"I prayed about it and the Good Lord said let's go to Texas and spend the winter there. Apparently he has work for me to do in Texas," he said Friday.
Cooper, who spoke from the trail by cell phone from somewhere around Seminole, said he plans to ride until the "Good Lord tells me to stop.
"My whereabouts right now are unknown, brother," he said, in hopes of eluding the online tail which managed to have him checked out by the Gaines County Sheriff's Department on Thursday.
More than a thousand people in a Facebook group are tracking him on the "Stop the ride of Carl Wayne 'CW' Cooper" page. Since Oct. 5, they have been sniffing out his trail, discussing his horse troubles and questioning the shifting reasons for his ride as well as his claim of being an ordained minister of the Cowboy Church in Springtown.
"He just continues to prove that he is willing to risk the health and well-being of these horses to justify his own personal ambition," said Colleen Parmenter Hamer, a long-distance rider from Blair, Neb., who started the Facebook group.
Cooper's digital trackers have also called him out on a whale of a whopper.
While trying to gin up support in what he once proposed as a five-year ride around the globe, Cooper posted online that he was a widower who lost his wife to cancer.
But his wife, who once managed his band, is very much alive. They're still married but "more than estranged," he admitted.
"I did that before I was ordained and I forgot about it. I didn't want people to know my business. If you say you're a widower they tend to leave you alone."
A bumpy trail
Cooper's ride has been rocky since he set off from Springtown on July 23.
His first horse laid down on him just a few miles into the ride, said Hamer's aunt, Bambie Goodall, of Bellevue, Pa., who was acting as Cooper's ride coordinator...
Read more here:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/10/13/4333057/effort-to-bring-attention-to-horse.html
Posted Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012
BY STEVE CAMPBELL
sfcampbell@star-telegram.com
A cowboy preacher form North Texas who set off in July to ride around the world to publicize horse abuse has ridden into a social media dust storm.
A vigilant Facebook posse of horse and long-distance riding enthusiasts are dogging CW Cooper's every move after he lost two horses to injuries, including one that broke its leg on a cattle guard and had to be shot last month near Alamogordo N.M., in the first 600 or so miles of his marathon ride.
Mounted on his sixth donated horse, Cooper, a 53-year-old air conditioning repairman and one-time country musician from the Parker County town of Bluff Dale, has doubled backed into West Texas.
He's also dumped the notion of trying to make it around the globe, and dropped the horse abuse angle.
He now says he's simply in the saddle for God.
"I prayed about it and the Good Lord said let's go to Texas and spend the winter there. Apparently he has work for me to do in Texas," he said Friday.
Cooper, who spoke from the trail by cell phone from somewhere around Seminole, said he plans to ride until the "Good Lord tells me to stop.
"My whereabouts right now are unknown, brother," he said, in hopes of eluding the online tail which managed to have him checked out by the Gaines County Sheriff's Department on Thursday.
More than a thousand people in a Facebook group are tracking him on the "Stop the ride of Carl Wayne 'CW' Cooper" page. Since Oct. 5, they have been sniffing out his trail, discussing his horse troubles and questioning the shifting reasons for his ride as well as his claim of being an ordained minister of the Cowboy Church in Springtown.
"He just continues to prove that he is willing to risk the health and well-being of these horses to justify his own personal ambition," said Colleen Parmenter Hamer, a long-distance rider from Blair, Neb., who started the Facebook group.
Cooper's digital trackers have also called him out on a whale of a whopper.
While trying to gin up support in what he once proposed as a five-year ride around the globe, Cooper posted online that he was a widower who lost his wife to cancer.
But his wife, who once managed his band, is very much alive. They're still married but "more than estranged," he admitted.
"I did that before I was ordained and I forgot about it. I didn't want people to know my business. If you say you're a widower they tend to leave you alone."
A bumpy trail
Cooper's ride has been rocky since he set off from Springtown on July 23.
His first horse laid down on him just a few miles into the ride, said Hamer's aunt, Bambie Goodall, of Bellevue, Pa., who was acting as Cooper's ride coordinator...
Read more here:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/10/13/4333057/effort-to-bring-attention-to-horse.html
Saturday, October 06, 2012
Several hundred expected for endurance ride
Cleburnenews.com - Full Article
by Wayne Ruple
news@cleburnenews.com
Anywhere from 100 – 400 endurance riders and their horses are expected to gather today in the Choccolocco Management Area in the Shoal Creek Division of the Talladega National forest just north of Heflin for the annual Alabama Yellowhammer Endurance Horse Ride.
Horses, from mules to Arabians, and their riders will begin today with timed 75-mile, 55-mile and 30-miles events near Coleman Lake throughout today and Friday with a 10-mile “fun ride” on Saturday.
An endurance ride is a marathon for horses across distances from 25-100 miles. The distances normally offered are 25, 30, 50, 55, 75 and 100 miles. Twenty-five milers have a maximum of six hours to complete, 30 – seven hours, 75 – 12 hrs, 55 – 13:15 hrs, 75 – 18 hrs and 100 – 24 hrs.
The ride is a run over a pre-marked, pre-measured trail. Trails are marked with color coded ribbons and directional arrows. Trails that will be used after dark will be marked with glow sticks. Each evening there is a briefing for the riders about the trails they will be following and the procedures they are to follow during the next day’s ride.
There are designated checks every 12-20 miles where the horses must stop and be examined by veterinarians and rest, drink and eat for a pre-determined time before continuing on the next leg of the ride. There are timers at the vet check location to officially release riders onto the trail and to record what time the riders come off the trail into a vet check. The vets examine the horse for signs of lameness, heart rate, dehydration, etc. to make sure the horse is fit to continue.
If the horse is judged not to be fit to continue, the horse and rider are not allowed to continue. Each evening after the ride, every horse/rider team that completes the ride with a sound and health horse within the maximum time limit gets a completion award.
Various awards are presented based on the sport motto “To Finish Is To Win” and the health of the horse always comes first...
Read more here:
http://www.cleburnenews.com/view/full_story/20365745/article-Several-hundred-expected-for-endurance-ride?instance=home_right
by Wayne Ruple
news@cleburnenews.com
Anywhere from 100 – 400 endurance riders and their horses are expected to gather today in the Choccolocco Management Area in the Shoal Creek Division of the Talladega National forest just north of Heflin for the annual Alabama Yellowhammer Endurance Horse Ride.
Horses, from mules to Arabians, and their riders will begin today with timed 75-mile, 55-mile and 30-miles events near Coleman Lake throughout today and Friday with a 10-mile “fun ride” on Saturday.
An endurance ride is a marathon for horses across distances from 25-100 miles. The distances normally offered are 25, 30, 50, 55, 75 and 100 miles. Twenty-five milers have a maximum of six hours to complete, 30 – seven hours, 75 – 12 hrs, 55 – 13:15 hrs, 75 – 18 hrs and 100 – 24 hrs.
The ride is a run over a pre-marked, pre-measured trail. Trails are marked with color coded ribbons and directional arrows. Trails that will be used after dark will be marked with glow sticks. Each evening there is a briefing for the riders about the trails they will be following and the procedures they are to follow during the next day’s ride.
There are designated checks every 12-20 miles where the horses must stop and be examined by veterinarians and rest, drink and eat for a pre-determined time before continuing on the next leg of the ride. There are timers at the vet check location to officially release riders onto the trail and to record what time the riders come off the trail into a vet check. The vets examine the horse for signs of lameness, heart rate, dehydration, etc. to make sure the horse is fit to continue.
If the horse is judged not to be fit to continue, the horse and rider are not allowed to continue. Each evening after the ride, every horse/rider team that completes the ride with a sound and health horse within the maximum time limit gets a completion award.
Various awards are presented based on the sport motto “To Finish Is To Win” and the health of the horse always comes first...
Read more here:
http://www.cleburnenews.com/view/full_story/20365745/article-Several-hundred-expected-for-endurance-ride?instance=home_right
Thursday, October 04, 2012
AERC Logo Contest
October 3 2012
AERC members: Get creative and come up with a logo to take AERC into the future. Must be a one-color design (printable, silk-screen-able, embroider-able) and designed by a current AERC member, who must agree to assign copyright to AERC.
Up to three designs may be submitted. A member vote will determine the top choices, with the board choosing the final selection.
DEADLINE is 12/1/12. Send submissions to endurancenews@foothill.net.
AERC members: Get creative and come up with a logo to take AERC into the future. Must be a one-color design (printable, silk-screen-able, embroider-able) and designed by a current AERC member, who must agree to assign copyright to AERC.
Up to three designs may be submitted. A member vote will determine the top choices, with the board choosing the final selection.
DEADLINE is 12/1/12. Send submissions to endurancenews@foothill.net.
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
CVM Student Completes Grueling Endurance Ride
Oregonstate.edu Blogs - Full StoryOctober 1 2012
The Western States Trail Ride, also known as the Tevis Cup, is widely considered the toughest endurance ride in the world. The trail follows part of the original Pony Express route through 100 miles of steep canyons, rocky pinnacles, sheer drop-offs, and deep forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Competitors have only 24 hours to complete the ride so it’s not surprising that only half finish successfully.
Endurance riding is not a race. The challenge is for a rider to finish with a horse who is judged “fit to continue”, which means he is mentally, emotionally, and physically ready to keep going. Veterinarians make sure that happens. The Tevis has more vet stops per mile than any other endurance competition.
Fourth year vet med student Rita Wehrman has been dreaming of riding in the Tevis since she was seven years old. “I read a book about it and I was hooked,” she says. “I knew I was going to do this ride eventually.”
Wehrman grew up around horses and began riding in local endurance races six years ago with a plan to work up to the Tevis. This year, she got serious and started cross-training her Morgan horse, Thompson. They did the usual trail riding, where Wehrman tried to present Thompson with obstacles and other challenges, but they also spent time in an arena. “We did light dressage to keep the horse balanced and collected,” she says. “You want their back up and their head down and them really listening to you.”
In May, three months before the Tevis, Thompson was injured chasing a goat friend who had escaped from the pasture. Wehrman realized he would not be able to compete and calls it “heartbreaking.” But she didn’t give up. She had nine weeks to find another horse and get it ready. Fortunately, a friend who was pregnant and not participating in Tevis this year offered Wehrman her horse, Dragon, an experienced endurance competitor...
Read more here:
http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/collegeofveterinarymedicine/2012/10/01/cvm-student-completes-grueling-endurance-ride/
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Nationwide West Nile Case Count Continues to Rise
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Erica Larson, News Editor
October 02 2012, Article # 20720
As fall begins and temperatures slowly drop, the number of confirmed equine West Nile virus (WNV) cases around the country continues to rise.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey disease maps, 364 cases of equine WNV had been confirmed at last update (Sept. 25). The current case total is the highest since 2007, when 468 horses were confirmed WNV-positive. The current total will likely rise, as mosquito season is not over in many parts of the country.
Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Virginia have all confirmed WNV cases recently.
Iowa--The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship issued a statement Sept. 28 indicating more than 20 horses in that state had tested positive for WNV thus far in 2012. The statement reported only one case was confirmed in Iowa in 2011.
"Horse owners are encouraged to make sure they get their animals vaccinated and keep the vaccination up-to-date," Bill Northey, Iowa secretary of agriculture, said in the statement. "The cases we are seeing are in horses that have not been vaccinated or are not current on their vaccinations, so we are encouraging owners to talk to their veterinarian and make sure their animals are protected."
Kentucky--Kentucky animal health officials confirmed an additional case of equine WNV, according to a Sept. 28 statement from Kentucky Equine Programs Manager E.S. "Rusty" Ford.
An unvaccinated 26-year-old Quarter Horse stallion from Madison County began showing clinical signs--including recumbency (unable to rise after lying down), hyperesthesia (hypersensitivity to touch and sound), and miotic (constricted) pupils--on Sept. 25 and was euthanized the same day. Ford said the horse had no vaccination history...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=20720
by: Erica Larson, News Editor
October 02 2012, Article # 20720
As fall begins and temperatures slowly drop, the number of confirmed equine West Nile virus (WNV) cases around the country continues to rise.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey disease maps, 364 cases of equine WNV had been confirmed at last update (Sept. 25). The current case total is the highest since 2007, when 468 horses were confirmed WNV-positive. The current total will likely rise, as mosquito season is not over in many parts of the country.
Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Virginia have all confirmed WNV cases recently.
Iowa--The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship issued a statement Sept. 28 indicating more than 20 horses in that state had tested positive for WNV thus far in 2012. The statement reported only one case was confirmed in Iowa in 2011.
"Horse owners are encouraged to make sure they get their animals vaccinated and keep the vaccination up-to-date," Bill Northey, Iowa secretary of agriculture, said in the statement. "The cases we are seeing are in horses that have not been vaccinated or are not current on their vaccinations, so we are encouraging owners to talk to their veterinarian and make sure their animals are protected."
Kentucky--Kentucky animal health officials confirmed an additional case of equine WNV, according to a Sept. 28 statement from Kentucky Equine Programs Manager E.S. "Rusty" Ford.
An unvaccinated 26-year-old Quarter Horse stallion from Madison County began showing clinical signs--including recumbency (unable to rise after lying down), hyperesthesia (hypersensitivity to touch and sound), and miotic (constricted) pupils--on Sept. 25 and was euthanized the same day. Ford said the horse had no vaccination history...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=20720
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Aspen Lake tests riders’ endurance
Heraldandnews.com - Full Article
Posted: Sunday, September 30, 2012 12:00 am
By SAMANTHA TIPLER H&N Staff Reporter
Before the sun came up Saturday morning, more than 60 riders and their horses were getting ready to trek 10, 30 or 50 miles through the forest for the Aspen Lake endurance ride.
The ride is associated with the American Endurance Ride Conference. Organizer Diana Aldridge said a proper endurance ride is 100 miles, but 50 miles qualifies and 30 miles is a modified endurance ride. The 10-mile ride is just for fun.
The ride started off on Clover Creek Road, about 10 miles outside of Keno.
Riders didn’t seem to mind the early hours, and the horses were excited to go.
Anna Sampson, of Mololla, kept track of everyone’s numbers, greeting them by name. At 7 a.m. she called out that the course was open, and the riders trotted away down the dusty road...
Read more here:
http://www.heraldandnews.com/members/news/inside/article_2ffc5c3e-0acd-11e2-aabe-001a4bcf887a.html
Posted: Sunday, September 30, 2012 12:00 am
By SAMANTHA TIPLER H&N Staff Reporter
Before the sun came up Saturday morning, more than 60 riders and their horses were getting ready to trek 10, 30 or 50 miles through the forest for the Aspen Lake endurance ride.
The ride is associated with the American Endurance Ride Conference. Organizer Diana Aldridge said a proper endurance ride is 100 miles, but 50 miles qualifies and 30 miles is a modified endurance ride. The 10-mile ride is just for fun.
The ride started off on Clover Creek Road, about 10 miles outside of Keno.
Riders didn’t seem to mind the early hours, and the horses were excited to go.
Anna Sampson, of Mololla, kept track of everyone’s numbers, greeting them by name. At 7 a.m. she called out that the course was open, and the riders trotted away down the dusty road...
Read more here:
http://www.heraldandnews.com/members/news/inside/article_2ffc5c3e-0acd-11e2-aabe-001a4bcf887a.html
Friday, September 21, 2012
2012 Virginia City 100
September 15, 2012Kelly Williams and Diamond Ruler L won the 45th annual Virginia City 100 on September 15, 2012, in a ride time of 14:29. It was their 3rd time to complete the ride, after finishing 17th in 2010, and 5th in 2011. Dennis Tracy and Brilliant Disquize tied with Shannon Constanti and TR Sierra Dawn for second and third, in a ride time of 15:13. "VC 100 is a wonderful ride. Equal to, or tougher than Tevis," Shannon said later.
The challenging Virginia City 100 ride annually attracts some tough horses and riders.
Gina Hall and 15-year-old Fire Mt Destiny finished the ride in 9th place. It was Destiny's 8th Virginia City Completion and his 17th 100-mile completion. He has 5640 miles, and 95 rides starts with only 1 pull. In his ride prior to the VC 100, he completed the Tevis Cup. "He's a phenomenal athlete!" Gina's daughter, Carolyn Meier, said. Gina has over 13,000 miles. This was her 13th VC100 completion.
Connie Creech, a long-time supporter of the VC and NASTR (Nevada All-State Trail Riders, Inc) rides, finished in 20th place for her 21st VC100 completion. Connie is one of only 3 riders (the others being Phil Gardner and Al Beaupre) who have earned the 2000-mile Virginia City 100 Buckle. She rode LS Shardonney Bey +/, who has herself finished the ride 3 times. Connie has over 27,000 miles, Shardonney 3700 miles.
It was Kevin Waters and 13-year-old DE Golden Ali's first attempt at the VC100. They finished in 12th place at 1:03 AM, a ride time of 16:47. "He has now down ALL the big ones: Bryce, Mt Carmel, Shellborne five-day rides. Tevis. Old Dominion. Big Horn. VC100. Some more than once!" Kevin said afterwards. "All while carrying not necessarily the most technically advanced rider in the world!!! Go Ali!!!!" Ali went over 5000 miles in the VC ride. He has 90 starts with only 2 pulls, and he's 12 for 12 in 100-mile rides. Kevin has over 23,000 miles.
This year, Nicole Chappell became the youngest rider to earn her 2,000 mile buckle for having completed the Virginia City 100, 20 different times. Nicole stated:
Goal accomplished! When I was 11 I wanted to be the youngest person to complete 20 times - yes 2000 miles over 20 years- the grueling and very rocky and hilly Virginia City 100 mile one day horse race! Golden Knight carried me to #20 just before midnight sept 15 2012 in 4th place. 3 for 3 top tens on this ride for him and his half sister Zoie!
There were 43 starters, 28 finishers.
Complete results can be seen here.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Maynesboro Stud Memorial Ride is a Hit
Berlindailysun.com - Full Article
BERLIN—"It was a blast, blast, blast," said Susie Reinheimer, of Bowdoin, Maine. "I've never been on a ride that was so well marked."
Reinheimer and her husband, Dave, were recreational riders among the some 50 who took part in the 2012 Maynesboro Stud Memorial Ride Saturday, organized by Walter Nadeau of the Berlin/Coos County Historical Society and sponsored by many.
The event marked 100 years since W.R. Brown of the Brown Company started the Maynesboro Stud to breed Arabian horses, known then and now for their intelligence and endurance.
Reinheimer's remarks about the well-marked trail were echoed by others.
Some 13 signed up for the 50-mile endurance ride and 19 for the 25-mile endurance ride and nobody got lost—which is not all that unusual on endurance rides, according to some of the tales told by support crew as they waited for their horses and riders to finish.
The competitors in the American Endurance Ride Conference-sanctioned event included some of the top riders in the northeast.
Placing first in the 50 mile ride was a trio of expert women riders: Kathryn Downs, of Jefferson, Maine, riding her Arabian, Bey Gibby; Ruth Ferland, of Cornish, riding Jedidiah Blackguard, a half Arabian; and Sally White, of Marlboro, Vt., riding RSF Rusty, another half Arabian.
At the last hold, the women agreed to come in together, said Downs, because while the trail was well marked, it was "rocky."
"None of us can afford to trash a horse," she said.
Before anyone knew of their decision, the race finish was moved up the trail and parked cars were removed from the road at the end of the trail, for fear the racing horses would overshoot the road in their headlong dash to and past the finish.
But there was no headlong dash. The lead three riders finished at a slow pace, three abreast, holding hands—the rider in the center, Ferland, holding her reins in her teeth.
A crucial point of endurance rides is the condition of the horse. "Holds" are scheduled along a course. During these holds of 30 or 40 minutes, timed from when the horse's pulse rate drops to 60, the horse is checked by a veterinarian who observes a trotting test as well as testing heart rate and respiration, and watered and fed. In the trotting test, if the horse exhibits signs of uneven gait or refuses, the owner must withdraw.
"The horse is the athlete," remarked Downs at the first hold of Saturday's ride..."
Read more here:
http://www.berlindailysun.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42828:maynesboro-stud-memorial-ride-is-a-hit&catid=103:local-news&Itemid=442
BERLIN—"It was a blast, blast, blast," said Susie Reinheimer, of Bowdoin, Maine. "I've never been on a ride that was so well marked."
Reinheimer and her husband, Dave, were recreational riders among the some 50 who took part in the 2012 Maynesboro Stud Memorial Ride Saturday, organized by Walter Nadeau of the Berlin/Coos County Historical Society and sponsored by many.
The event marked 100 years since W.R. Brown of the Brown Company started the Maynesboro Stud to breed Arabian horses, known then and now for their intelligence and endurance.
Reinheimer's remarks about the well-marked trail were echoed by others.
Some 13 signed up for the 50-mile endurance ride and 19 for the 25-mile endurance ride and nobody got lost—which is not all that unusual on endurance rides, according to some of the tales told by support crew as they waited for their horses and riders to finish.
The competitors in the American Endurance Ride Conference-sanctioned event included some of the top riders in the northeast.
Placing first in the 50 mile ride was a trio of expert women riders: Kathryn Downs, of Jefferson, Maine, riding her Arabian, Bey Gibby; Ruth Ferland, of Cornish, riding Jedidiah Blackguard, a half Arabian; and Sally White, of Marlboro, Vt., riding RSF Rusty, another half Arabian.
At the last hold, the women agreed to come in together, said Downs, because while the trail was well marked, it was "rocky."
"None of us can afford to trash a horse," she said.
Before anyone knew of their decision, the race finish was moved up the trail and parked cars were removed from the road at the end of the trail, for fear the racing horses would overshoot the road in their headlong dash to and past the finish.
But there was no headlong dash. The lead three riders finished at a slow pace, three abreast, holding hands—the rider in the center, Ferland, holding her reins in her teeth.
A crucial point of endurance rides is the condition of the horse. "Holds" are scheduled along a course. During these holds of 30 or 40 minutes, timed from when the horse's pulse rate drops to 60, the horse is checked by a veterinarian who observes a trotting test as well as testing heart rate and respiration, and watered and fed. In the trotting test, if the horse exhibits signs of uneven gait or refuses, the owner must withdraw.
"The horse is the athlete," remarked Downs at the first hold of Saturday's ride..."
Read more here:
http://www.berlindailysun.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42828:maynesboro-stud-memorial-ride-is-a-hit&catid=103:local-news&Itemid=442
Monday, September 17, 2012
2013 AERC National Championship at City of Rocks, Idaho
[More ...]The 2013 AERC National Championship will be held at Almo, Idaho, near City of Rocks National Reserve on September 20 (50 miles) and September 22 (100 miles).
Rides will be held over varied terrain from 5300 to 8500 feet, traversing Bureau of Land Manageent (BLM) high sagebrush desert, City of Rocks National Reserve trails, City of Rocks State Park and alpine trails through aspen and fir forests in the Albion Mountains in the Sawtooth National Forest.
Besides stunning views, competitors will share the trails with the historic past, riding over old emigrant trails and stage routes, past old stage stops, historic school houses and cemeteries, and older Native American sites.
The town of Almo provides many amenities including restaurants, lodging, general stores and hot springs. City of Rocks offers some of the best rock climbing in the country, plus hiking and sight-seeing and fishing at nearby Independence Lakes.
For a video preview of one of the trails through the National Reserve, see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHckkzcbHbQ
Ride managers Steph Teeter and Regina Rose will host the event. The various land agencies and community of Almo Idaho are all highly supportive of equestrian events and welcome the AERC National Championship to Idaho in 2013.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
USEF Youth Sportsman Award
9/16/12
Applications for the USEF Youth Sportsman Award are available online at the USEF Youth Sportsman Page. The application and all supporting materials must be received by the AERC office by October 1, 2012.
Applications for the USEF Youth Sportsman Award are available online at the USEF Youth Sportsman Page. The application and all supporting materials must be received by the AERC office by October 1, 2012.
USFS Management plan for Cumberland District in KY
The USFS has been working on a long range management plan for the trail system in the northern half of the Cumberland District of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky for going on five years.
On August 31 they revealed their alternatives and began a 30 day comment period. This may be our last chance to influence the final outcome. This is the USFS and comments may be submitted. by ANY US Citizen.
Currently, this area has over 110 miles of trails and gravel roads open to horse use and at least 80% of trail users in the area are equestrians. The AERC National Championship has been held on these trails twice in the last ten years.
Details may be viewed on the FS web site:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/dbnf/landmanagement/projects
Once you get the FS web page: look on the left side and find "Land & Resource Management". Go down and Click on "Projects". A list will appear. Go down to the sub-heading "Under Analysis". Click on "Cave Run Non-motorized Trails Initiative". There is a ton of stuff here but what you need is under "Analysis". There you should find 7 maps and some narratives about the project.
The FS "Alternatives" range from No Change (very unlikely) to reducing equine use to 19 miles (2 of the 5 alternatives) in the winter (months not specified but possibly six months of the year) and reducing equine trails by one third or more during the dryer months. The trails taken from equine users would be given to the approximately 15% of users who ride mountain bikes. Although the claim is made that the seasonal closures are to protect trails from excessive wear in wet weather, no science was applied to choosing which trails to close and no flexibility is provided.
Any reduction in trails available for equine use will result in greater impacts on the remaining trails, as well as a dramatically different experience.
Issues ignored or summarily dismissed by the USFS in the process (though brought up by equestrians) include; the Congressional mandate to the FS to foster local economic development, the fact that the vast majority of trail users are equestrians, the historical and cultural significance of local equine use, the fact that equine use is the ONLY predominately female activity in the forest while mountain bikers are the same 20 to 40 year old male group that makes up the majority of user groups in all other forest activities, equestrians also are older than any other user group, horse riding is the best means of access to back country for people with physical limitations, a reduction in bicycle use in the area since the only mountain bike shop in the area closed last year and Equestrians have a long history of cooperation and working with the USFS to improve trails while Mountain Bikers have openly flaunted regulations and even assaulted other users in an attempt to intimidate them into abandoning the trails.
There is room for compromise and we are not insisting on no changes, but the final plan must be reasonable!
Please send Comments calling for NO reduction in the total miles of equine trails. These Comments will play a role in the selection of the preferred alternative. Comments MUST be received by Friday September 28.
Written comments, or comments provided in person, must be submitted to Frank Beum, Forest Supervisor, 1700 Bypass Road, Winchester, KY 40391. Comments can be sent by facsimile to 859-737-3867. Electronic comments should be in a common digital format and sent to comments-southern-daniel-boone@fs.fed.us. The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered comments are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Oral comments via telephone must be provided during normal business hours to Becky Riegle, Project Leader at 989-724-9381.
On August 31 they revealed their alternatives and began a 30 day comment period. This may be our last chance to influence the final outcome. This is the USFS and comments may be submitted. by ANY US Citizen.
Currently, this area has over 110 miles of trails and gravel roads open to horse use and at least 80% of trail users in the area are equestrians. The AERC National Championship has been held on these trails twice in the last ten years.
Details may be viewed on the FS web site:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/dbnf/landmanagement/projects
Once you get the FS web page: look on the left side and find "Land & Resource Management". Go down and Click on "Projects". A list will appear. Go down to the sub-heading "Under Analysis". Click on "Cave Run Non-motorized Trails Initiative". There is a ton of stuff here but what you need is under "Analysis". There you should find 7 maps and some narratives about the project.
The FS "Alternatives" range from No Change (very unlikely) to reducing equine use to 19 miles (2 of the 5 alternatives) in the winter (months not specified but possibly six months of the year) and reducing equine trails by one third or more during the dryer months. The trails taken from equine users would be given to the approximately 15% of users who ride mountain bikes. Although the claim is made that the seasonal closures are to protect trails from excessive wear in wet weather, no science was applied to choosing which trails to close and no flexibility is provided.
Any reduction in trails available for equine use will result in greater impacts on the remaining trails, as well as a dramatically different experience.
Issues ignored or summarily dismissed by the USFS in the process (though brought up by equestrians) include; the Congressional mandate to the FS to foster local economic development, the fact that the vast majority of trail users are equestrians, the historical and cultural significance of local equine use, the fact that equine use is the ONLY predominately female activity in the forest while mountain bikers are the same 20 to 40 year old male group that makes up the majority of user groups in all other forest activities, equestrians also are older than any other user group, horse riding is the best means of access to back country for people with physical limitations, a reduction in bicycle use in the area since the only mountain bike shop in the area closed last year and Equestrians have a long history of cooperation and working with the USFS to improve trails while Mountain Bikers have openly flaunted regulations and even assaulted other users in an attempt to intimidate them into abandoning the trails.
There is room for compromise and we are not insisting on no changes, but the final plan must be reasonable!
Please send Comments calling for NO reduction in the total miles of equine trails. These Comments will play a role in the selection of the preferred alternative. Comments MUST be received by Friday September 28.
Written comments, or comments provided in person, must be submitted to Frank Beum, Forest Supervisor, 1700 Bypass Road, Winchester, KY 40391. Comments can be sent by facsimile to 859-737-3867. Electronic comments should be in a common digital format and sent to comments-southern-daniel-boone@fs.fed.us. The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered comments are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Oral comments via telephone must be provided during normal business hours to Becky Riegle, Project Leader at 989-724-9381.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
2013 AERC SCHOLARSHIP!
9/15/12
Click below for the AERC Scholarship Application which is due to AERC VP Jan Stevens by 1/1/13. AERC members from high school seniors through age 21 (must be younger than 22 on 1/1/13) are eligible to apply. Please see application info sheet for other requirements. The winner of the $1000 scholarship will be announced at the 2013 convention's national awards banquet.
http://www.aerc.org/Temp/2013ScholarshipApp.pdf
Click below for the AERC Scholarship Application which is due to AERC VP Jan Stevens by 1/1/13. AERC members from high school seniors through age 21 (must be younger than 22 on 1/1/13) are eligible to apply. Please see application info sheet for other requirements. The winner of the $1000 scholarship will be announced at the 2013 convention's national awards banquet.
http://www.aerc.org/Temp/2013ScholarshipApp.pdf
National Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. In 2012, NPLD will be held on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. In 2012, NPLD will be held on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012.
NPLD began in 1994 with three sites and 700 volunteers. It proved to be a huge success and NPLD became a yearly tradition, typically held on the last Saturday in September. Since the first NPLD, the event has grown by leaps and bounds.
In 2011, more than 170,000 volunteers worked at 2,067 sites in every state, the District of Columbia and in many U.S. territories. NPLD volunteers:
Collected an estimated 23,000 pounds of invasive plants
Built and maintained an estimated 1,500 miles of trails
Planted an estimated 100,000 trees, shrubs and other native plants
Removed an estimated 500 tons of trash from trails and other places
Contributed an estimated $17 million through volunteer services to improve public lands across the country
Eight federal agencies as well as nonprofit organizations and state, regional and local governments participate in the annual day of caring for public lands.
National Public Lands Day keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the "tree army" that worked from 1933-1942 to preserve and protect America's natural heritage.
Why is National Public Lands Day Important?
NPLD educates Americans about the environment and natural resources, and the need for shared stewardship of these valued, irreplaceable lands;
NPLD builds partnerships between the public sector and the local community based upon mutual interests in the enhancement and restoration of America's public lands; and
NPLD improves public lands for outdoor recreation, with volunteers assisting land managers in hands-on work.
Interested in National Public Lands Day?
For more information, see http://www.publiclandsday.org/
To volunteer, view our Find a Site map here.
NPLD began in 1994 with three sites and 700 volunteers. It proved to be a huge success and NPLD became a yearly tradition, typically held on the last Saturday in September. Since the first NPLD, the event has grown by leaps and bounds.
In 2011, more than 170,000 volunteers worked at 2,067 sites in every state, the District of Columbia and in many U.S. territories. NPLD volunteers:
Collected an estimated 23,000 pounds of invasive plants
Built and maintained an estimated 1,500 miles of trails
Planted an estimated 100,000 trees, shrubs and other native plants
Removed an estimated 500 tons of trash from trails and other places
Contributed an estimated $17 million through volunteer services to improve public lands across the country
Eight federal agencies as well as nonprofit organizations and state, regional and local governments participate in the annual day of caring for public lands.
National Public Lands Day keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the "tree army" that worked from 1933-1942 to preserve and protect America's natural heritage.
Why is National Public Lands Day Important?
NPLD educates Americans about the environment and natural resources, and the need for shared stewardship of these valued, irreplaceable lands;
NPLD builds partnerships between the public sector and the local community based upon mutual interests in the enhancement and restoration of America's public lands; and
NPLD improves public lands for outdoor recreation, with volunteers assisting land managers in hands-on work.
Interested in National Public Lands Day?
For more information, see http://www.publiclandsday.org/
To volunteer, view our Find a Site map here.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
‘To finish is to win’
Dylan Brown photo-Independent Record Helenair.com - Full Story
By DYLAN BROWN Independent Record
September 12 2012
Long before the sun breaks the horizon, Helenan Julie Muscutt is up feeding her horse a high protein mash with electrolytes. She fills a water bowl and heads back to bed. Muscutt says, “Just like marathon runners, horses need to hydrate.”
Her alarm buzzes and she’s back outside in the dark, strapping on a saddle. The horizon is burning red and her horse snorts in anticipation for the ride to come. She’s preparing for the seventh annual Pioneer Cabin Endurance Race, which is a two-day event on the Dagnell Ranch off Lincoln Road. She is one of several locals competing in the endurance race, which draws people from around the state and as far away as Calgary.
On Saturday, 12 racers competed in the 50-mile endurance race, 16 in the 25-mile limited race and two in the fun ride. On Sunday, three competed in the 50-mile endurance race and seven competed in the 30-mile limited distance race — this is the race Muscutt was preparing for.
As the sun beams across the wide Canyon Creek valley, the 50-mile riders let their reins down and head off across the dry landscape, kicking up dust streaked by rays of light. The 50-mile course is composed of two 15-mile laps, one 12-mile lap and one 8-mile lap. After each lap, the riders and their horses take a 45-minute break while veterinarians check the horses’ vitals, such as cardiovascular, skin tenting and gut sounds.
Muscutt says it’s all about the horse. “It’s really fun; it’s a thrill,” she says. “There isn’t a dress code, no political hype, none of that. Come be friendly and take care of your horse. If you don’t take care of your horse, you’ll get a bad rap really quick. If you don’t take care of your horse you won’t get along with these people...”
Read more here:
http://helenair.com/lifestyles/recreation/to-finish-is-to-win/article_9801f2f4-fd66-11e1-8a57-001a4bcf887a.html?comment_form=true
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Maynesboro Stud Memorial Ride Draws the Horse World's Attention to Berlin
Berlindailysun.com - Full article
Written by Barbara Tetreault
BERLIN – The Maynesboro Stud Memorial Ride will draw over 50 horses and riders to Berlin this weekend for an event that has captured the attention of the Arabian horse world.
The event celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Maynesboro Stud by William Robinson Brown. Brown, a member of the family that founded and operated the Brown Company paper mill, is considered the most important breeder of Arabian horses in the United States between 1912 and 1933.
An article about the event in the current issue of Modern Arabian Horse Magazine said Brown “once boasted the largest, finest and most influential herd of Arabian horses in the Western Hemisphere. W.R. Brown’s breeding program has such a positive and pervasive effect upon the breed in the United States, that the descendants of his many excellent stallions and mares are now omnipresent in modern bloodlines.”
Attending the festivities will be about a dozen Brown descendants including his daughter and son, Nancy Lee Snow and Fielding Brown, according to Walter Nadeau of the Berlin and Coos County Historical Society. The society has been working for over a year to plan and organize the event.
The highlight of the event is the 50-mile endurance race on Saturday. The race will start and finish at the Brown Company barns on the East Milan Road where Brown raised his horses. There will also be a 25-mile limited distance race and a 13-mile recreational ride.
Nadeau said riders are coming from across New England as well as New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina to compete here.
"This is a big deal in the Arabian horse world,” he said...
Read more here:
http://www.berlindailysun.com/
Written by Barbara Tetreault
BERLIN – The Maynesboro Stud Memorial Ride will draw over 50 horses and riders to Berlin this weekend for an event that has captured the attention of the Arabian horse world.
The event celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Maynesboro Stud by William Robinson Brown. Brown, a member of the family that founded and operated the Brown Company paper mill, is considered the most important breeder of Arabian horses in the United States between 1912 and 1933.
An article about the event in the current issue of Modern Arabian Horse Magazine said Brown “once boasted the largest, finest and most influential herd of Arabian horses in the Western Hemisphere. W.R. Brown’s breeding program has such a positive and pervasive effect upon the breed in the United States, that the descendants of his many excellent stallions and mares are now omnipresent in modern bloodlines.”
Attending the festivities will be about a dozen Brown descendants including his daughter and son, Nancy Lee Snow and Fielding Brown, according to Walter Nadeau of the Berlin and Coos County Historical Society. The society has been working for over a year to plan and organize the event.
The highlight of the event is the 50-mile endurance race on Saturday. The race will start and finish at the Brown Company barns on the East Milan Road where Brown raised his horses. There will also be a 25-mile limited distance race and a 13-mile recreational ride.
Nadeau said riders are coming from across New England as well as New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina to compete here.
"This is a big deal in the Arabian horse world,” he said...
Read more here:
http://www.berlindailysun.com/
Friday, September 07, 2012
Horses and wine blend among the vines on Tamber Bey estate in Yountville
Napavalleyregister.com - Full ArticleL. PIERCE CARSON
For a substantial chunk of his business career, Barry Waitte “played with the big boys” in the worlds of high technology and venture capital.
When he wasn’t moving money around or investigating a tech breakthrough, Waitte and his fianceé — now wife — Jennifer, spent days on the backs of Arabian horses, taking part in single day endurance races that stretched for either 50 or 100 miles.
But the lure of the grapevine got to Waitte, and he decided he’d rather grow grapes than pound stakes in high finance.
Not only was he familiar with Napa Valley but he felt Napa was the best place to make the type of wine he likes to drink.
“My parents used to vacation in St. Helena ... I’ve been coming here since I was 2 years old,” he recalled over a glass of a lush merlot enjoyed on the veranda of his Yountville wine estate.
“I love wine,” Waitte said, “and I looked into all aspects of the business before I chose the role of a grower.”
Just about a dozen years ago, Waitte purchased a choice 60-acre vineyard at the northern end of the Yountville appellation, containing cabernet sauvignon, merlot and smaller tracts of red Bordeaux varieties. When he brought a couple of horses to the property, he named the property Deux Chevaux...
Read more here:
http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/wine/horses-and-wine-blend-among-the-vines-on-tamber-bey/article_546eeb62-f881-11e1-98a5-001a4bcf887a.html
$100 Psychotic, Wild, Hell-Horse Wins The Tevis Cup
Easycareinc.com Blog
Tuesday, September 4, 2012 by Garrett Ford
"He was going to shoot the horse!"
We all hear horror stories about horses that get into the wrong situation, with the wrong owners or are asked to compete in the wrong discipline. Many times these horses are one connection or one circumstance away from excellence and a chance to thrive in life. It's a common story in the life of a horse and many times they don't end well. But when the stars align and a horse finds his place magic can happen.
The Fury changed hands as a three year old for $100.00 and the sale possibly saved him from a bullet. The $100.00 purchase not only changed his life but started a chain of events that would give him the opportunity to win the most prestigious 100 mile horse event in the world.
In late 2009 I started looking for a new endurance horse. I had taken several years away from the from the sport of long distance racing and was looking for the right horse to help introduce several exciting EasyCare hoof boots. I wanted a horse with presence, with attitude, a horse that loved his job and a horse that people would remember. The horse in many ways would end up being associated with the barefoot movement, the Easyboot Glove and Easyboots in general.
After a bunch of searching I responded to a classified ad placed on www.endurance.net. I contacted Deena MacDonald from New Hampshire and started the process. Fury was described as a teenage boy that needed a job, he was powerful, forward and a bit of a handful. Sounded like my kind of horse. I had a him vetted and the vet quickly knew the horse. "He's the horse that dumped his rider on the hood of the car before the last competitive trail ride and ran off"...
Read more here:
http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/hoof-boot-news/100-psychotic-wild-hell-horse-wins-the-tevis-cup
Tuesday, September 4, 2012 by Garrett Ford
"He was going to shoot the horse!"
We all hear horror stories about horses that get into the wrong situation, with the wrong owners or are asked to compete in the wrong discipline. Many times these horses are one connection or one circumstance away from excellence and a chance to thrive in life. It's a common story in the life of a horse and many times they don't end well. But when the stars align and a horse finds his place magic can happen.
The Fury changed hands as a three year old for $100.00 and the sale possibly saved him from a bullet. The $100.00 purchase not only changed his life but started a chain of events that would give him the opportunity to win the most prestigious 100 mile horse event in the world.
In late 2009 I started looking for a new endurance horse. I had taken several years away from the from the sport of long distance racing and was looking for the right horse to help introduce several exciting EasyCare hoof boots. I wanted a horse with presence, with attitude, a horse that loved his job and a horse that people would remember. The horse in many ways would end up being associated with the barefoot movement, the Easyboot Glove and Easyboots in general.
After a bunch of searching I responded to a classified ad placed on www.endurance.net. I contacted Deena MacDonald from New Hampshire and started the process. Fury was described as a teenage boy that needed a job, he was powerful, forward and a bit of a handful. Sounded like my kind of horse. I had a him vetted and the vet quickly knew the horse. "He's the horse that dumped his rider on the hood of the car before the last competitive trail ride and ran off"...
Read more here:
http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/hoof-boot-news/100-psychotic-wild-hell-horse-wins-the-tevis-cup
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Ben Fogle, The Adventurer: the world on horseback
Telegraph.co.uk - Full StoryBy Ben Fogle
11:36AM BST 06 Sep 2012
Last month, I became John Wayne for the day. Or that’s how I felt. Dressed in double denim, with spurs on my cowboy boots and leather chaps slung over my jeans, I was clutching a hand-stitched saddle on a horse called Hamburger. Vast, weather-beaten plains stretched out in front of me.
I was in Big Bend National Park in Texas, riding and filming with real-life cowboys – and yes, we were wearing Stetsons – as they herded cattle across the desert.
Creature comforts were sparse. When our horses began to gallop, sand lifted in great clouds. It felt like being in a hairdryer – not surprising when it was 110F (43C) in the shade. And then there were the rattlesnakes. Knowing that they could spook the horses at any moment as we wended our way through some of the wildest, most isolated country in the Lone Star State was just a little bit scary.
Welcome to the life of a proper cowboy; men who work the land all year – rounding up longhorn cattle, often for days at a time.
Despite the risks and discomfort, I can’t tell you how thrilling it was to see this barren, remote corner of the world by horseback. For me, travelling this way is one of the best adventures you can have. You feel incredibly connected to the landscape, working in harmony with these beautiful animals. There are few better ways of seeing the world...
Read more here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activityandadventure/9524903/Ben-Fogle-The-Adventurer-the-world-on-horseback.html
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Injured rider returns home to family, friends, horses and dogs
Auburnjournal.com - Full ArticleCosta hopes to eventually ride again
By Amber Marra, Journal Staff Writer
After a long stay in a San Francisco rehabilitation center, Crystal Costa, a downed horse rider, has made it home.
Last Saturday, Costa, 50, came in through the decorated gates of her ranch in Cool. Handmade banners by Costa's son and neighbor reading "Welcome Home, Crystal" still hang a week later.
Costa is now a paraplegic after she suffered a broken back after an equestrian accident in June.
"Even though I know how sad it is I can't let it do that to me. I have to make the most of it and make it work," Costa said.
The accident happened while Costa, who has ridden horses for 40 years, was training to ride in the Tevis Cup near Francisco's checkpoint. The Tahoe-Sierra 100-Mile Mountain Bike Race was happening at the time, but Costa didn't know that.
"Always find out if there is a bike race on the narrow trails and on trails where you'd never think there would be bike," Costa said. "Riding horses, riding bikes, hiking out on the multiuse trails, it's a gamble."
Jon Hyatt, of Granite Bay, was around mile 85 into the Tahoe-Sierra 100 when he noticed three horseback riders ahead, one of them being Costa. Hyatt, who was in fifth place at the time, acknowledged the three riders and proceeded to go around a green gate and past them.
As Hyatt maneuvered around the gate, his bike tire slid in loose gravel and one of his shoes came unclipped from his bike peddle. The racket from the loose gravel and the unclipped shoe startled Costa's horse, along with one of its protective boots coming undone.
For the first time in her 40 years of riding, Costa knew she had to bail, and unfortunately when she did she landed on rocks, which broke her back, specifically the T10, T11 and T12 vertebrae...
Read more here:
http://auburnjournal.com/detail/216588.html?fb_comment_id=fbc_10151057364222462_24066870_10151071125347462#f3a8e68be
Sunday, September 02, 2012
2012 Tevis: 42 Legacy Buckles Awarded
September 2 2012
Instituted in 2012, the Tevis Legacy Buckle Program allows first time finishers to receive, at no charge, a buckle donated by a previous Tevis Cup Ride finisher. The buckles collected by the program this year were from rides as early as the 1960's and from rides as recent as 2011, thanks to the generosity of many donors. At the awards banquet on August 5th, 42 Legacy Buckles were awarded to first time finishers. The photo shows donor Julie Suhr with first time finishers John Donley, a junior rider, and Miriam Rezine. Plans are in place to award Legacy Buckles in 2013. Anyone who would like to donate past buckles is encouraged to do so. Please contact the WSTF office for additional information.
wstf@teviscup.org
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Local horse, rider never quit
SYVNews.com - Full Article
REMY AND PETER CLAYDON FINISH 24-HOUR ENDURANCE RIDE
August 30, 2012 12:00 am • Staff report
A 15-year-old gelding with a history of overcoming debilitating injuries chalked up his latest comeback this month as he and his 67-year-old local rider completed a grueling, 24-hour endurance ride through the Sierra Nevada.
KHnight to Remember (Remy for short) and Dr. Peter Claydon placed 14th in the 100-mile Tevis Cup trail ride, which was finished by only 98 of the 204 horse and rider teams that began it Aug. 4.
“Remy is an amazing horse, and I am grateful to have such a wonderful partner,” Claydon said.
The ride starts at 5:15 a.m. at Robie Park, near Lake Tahoe, and takes 24 hours to complete the 100 miles on unlit, switchback trails, climbing to nearly 9,000 feet at Watson Monument, with sheer drops on one side, over a swinging bridge and down into river beds before it ends in Auburn, Calif.
The Tevis Cup, which has been held annually since 1955, is widely considered the most difficult equestrian endurance ride in the country.
Remy was born and raised in the Santa Ynez Valley and came to Claydon from Ryding Hy Arabians as a totally untrained 5-year-old.
They began their endurance-racing careers together and have finished in the top 10 more than 40 times, including 11 wins.
However, in late 2008 Remy suffered a serious injury to his right hind leg and was out of endurance competition for a year while he was treated by Dr. Ben Bramsen of Oak Leaf Veterinary in Los Olivos...
Read more here:
http://syvnews.com/lifestyles/local-horse-rider-never-quit/article_d9088112-f16a-11e1-80ff-0019bb2963f4.html
REMY AND PETER CLAYDON FINISH 24-HOUR ENDURANCE RIDE
August 30, 2012 12:00 am • Staff report
A 15-year-old gelding with a history of overcoming debilitating injuries chalked up his latest comeback this month as he and his 67-year-old local rider completed a grueling, 24-hour endurance ride through the Sierra Nevada.
KHnight to Remember (Remy for short) and Dr. Peter Claydon placed 14th in the 100-mile Tevis Cup trail ride, which was finished by only 98 of the 204 horse and rider teams that began it Aug. 4.
“Remy is an amazing horse, and I am grateful to have such a wonderful partner,” Claydon said.
The ride starts at 5:15 a.m. at Robie Park, near Lake Tahoe, and takes 24 hours to complete the 100 miles on unlit, switchback trails, climbing to nearly 9,000 feet at Watson Monument, with sheer drops on one side, over a swinging bridge and down into river beds before it ends in Auburn, Calif.
The Tevis Cup, which has been held annually since 1955, is widely considered the most difficult equestrian endurance ride in the country.
Remy was born and raised in the Santa Ynez Valley and came to Claydon from Ryding Hy Arabians as a totally untrained 5-year-old.
They began their endurance-racing careers together and have finished in the top 10 more than 40 times, including 11 wins.
However, in late 2008 Remy suffered a serious injury to his right hind leg and was out of endurance competition for a year while he was treated by Dr. Ben Bramsen of Oak Leaf Veterinary in Los Olivos...
Read more here:
http://syvnews.com/lifestyles/local-horse-rider-never-quit/article_d9088112-f16a-11e1-80ff-0019bb2963f4.html
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
9 Questions for KER-Sponsored Endurance Rider Kelsey Kimbler
KER.com - Full Article August 22, 2012
What's it like to train for and ride in endurance races? How can an interested rider get started in this discipline? Kelsey Kimbler, an endurance rider sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research, shared some information about her favorite sport.
When did you start riding, and how did you become involved in endurance riding?
My sister Kirsten, the oldest of us four girls, got Winnie, our first Arabian. Winnie was five years old and Kirsten was ten. She started showing at local Arabian horse shows and decided she wanted to show at the regional and national level. We started adding horses, and I began showing in walk-trot when I was eight. In 2004 I was the Canadian National Hunter Pleasure Walk-Trot Champion with my horse SR Diamond Lakota. Kirsten and my dad started endurance in 2003 after reading an article in the Arabian Horse Magazine about the Tevis Cup. That article ignited a spark that led us down this endurance path. After a few years of dividing our time between endurance and showing, we decided to focus on endurance! We love riding together as a family and spend our entire summers traveling to endurance rides.
Who are your influences in the sport?
We were very fortunate to cross paths with our family's mentor, Canadian rider Myna Cryderman, in our earliest days of endurance. She lives relatively close to us, about six hours straight north. She is still a great friend and mentor but somewhat retired from competitive endurance, choosing to go at a more leisurely pace now with her granddaughter Lyric, who is just getting started in the sport. I was also truly blessed last summer to get to train with John Crandell who won Tevis the two times I was there. I learned so much from him during that time, and I was able to ride his horse Motyf at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) last year. When I applied for the World Championship, I asked if he would consider coming to groom for me and my horse Cody and was so grateful when he agreed.
What is the most exciting part of endurance competition?...
Read more here:
http://www.ker.com/news/2012/08/9-questions-for-ker-sponsored.html
What's it like to train for and ride in endurance races? How can an interested rider get started in this discipline? Kelsey Kimbler, an endurance rider sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research, shared some information about her favorite sport.
When did you start riding, and how did you become involved in endurance riding?
My sister Kirsten, the oldest of us four girls, got Winnie, our first Arabian. Winnie was five years old and Kirsten was ten. She started showing at local Arabian horse shows and decided she wanted to show at the regional and national level. We started adding horses, and I began showing in walk-trot when I was eight. In 2004 I was the Canadian National Hunter Pleasure Walk-Trot Champion with my horse SR Diamond Lakota. Kirsten and my dad started endurance in 2003 after reading an article in the Arabian Horse Magazine about the Tevis Cup. That article ignited a spark that led us down this endurance path. After a few years of dividing our time between endurance and showing, we decided to focus on endurance! We love riding together as a family and spend our entire summers traveling to endurance rides.
Who are your influences in the sport?
We were very fortunate to cross paths with our family's mentor, Canadian rider Myna Cryderman, in our earliest days of endurance. She lives relatively close to us, about six hours straight north. She is still a great friend and mentor but somewhat retired from competitive endurance, choosing to go at a more leisurely pace now with her granddaughter Lyric, who is just getting started in the sport. I was also truly blessed last summer to get to train with John Crandell who won Tevis the two times I was there. I learned so much from him during that time, and I was able to ride his horse Motyf at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) last year. When I applied for the World Championship, I asked if he would consider coming to groom for me and my horse Cody and was so grateful when he agreed.
What is the most exciting part of endurance competition?...
Read more here:
http://www.ker.com/news/2012/08/9-questions-for-ker-sponsored.html
Hunterdon rider is highest placed American at World Endurance Championship
NJ.com - Full Article
August 27 2012
By Lillian Shupe/Hunterdon County Democrat
NEWMARKET, UNITED KINGDOM — Margaret “Meg” Sleeper, who was a last-minute substitution, was the highest placed American at the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship on Saturday, Aug. 25.
The day started out pleasant at Euston Park, but throughout the day the weather deteriorated into heavy downpours and severe thunderstorms. Due to the extreme weather, officials had to call the race off for the safety of the horses and riders. In an unusual finish to an endurance race, several riders were placed based on the position they were in at the time that the race was called, but the majority of the riders finished the sixth and final loop.
Sleeper finished 11th but since she was riding as an individual, her score did not count toward the team score. The team finished fourth.
Sleeper and Syrocco Reveille had a ride time of 07:49:11, averaging 20.46 kph...
Read more here:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2012/08/hunterdon_rider_is_highest_pla.html
August 27 2012
By Lillian Shupe/Hunterdon County Democrat
NEWMARKET, UNITED KINGDOM — Margaret “Meg” Sleeper, who was a last-minute substitution, was the highest placed American at the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship on Saturday, Aug. 25.
The day started out pleasant at Euston Park, but throughout the day the weather deteriorated into heavy downpours and severe thunderstorms. Due to the extreme weather, officials had to call the race off for the safety of the horses and riders. In an unusual finish to an endurance race, several riders were placed based on the position they were in at the time that the race was called, but the majority of the riders finished the sixth and final loop.
Sleeper finished 11th but since she was riding as an individual, her score did not count toward the team score. The team finished fourth.
Sleeper and Syrocco Reveille had a ride time of 07:49:11, averaging 20.46 kph...
Read more here:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2012/08/hunterdon_rider_is_highest_pla.html
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Oregon 100 Hosts 50-mile Appy Nat'l Championship
8/19/2012
The Oregon 100 on September 15 near Brothers, Oregon, is also hosting the 50 mile Appaloosa National Championship Endurance Ride (ANCER) running consecutively with the 50 mile ride start. If you have a Registered Appaloosa and your horse is enrolled in the ApHC Distance Program and you have at least 100 distance miles accredited to your horse, then you are AUTOMATICALLY qualified to enter this championship ride.
You can find the ANCER entry form here: http://www.appaloosa.com/trail/national-champ.htm
You must enter BOTH the Oregon 100 ride and the ApHC's ANCER independently. Let's get those Appaloosas on the championship ride and let them SHINE! =) .
The Oregon 100 on September 15 near Brothers, Oregon, is also hosting the 50 mile Appaloosa National Championship Endurance Ride (ANCER) running consecutively with the 50 mile ride start. If you have a Registered Appaloosa and your horse is enrolled in the ApHC Distance Program and you have at least 100 distance miles accredited to your horse, then you are AUTOMATICALLY qualified to enter this championship ride.
You can find the ANCER entry form here: http://www.appaloosa.com/trail/national-champ.htm
You must enter BOTH the Oregon 100 ride and the ApHC's ANCER independently. Let's get those Appaloosas on the championship ride and let them SHINE! =) .
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Downed rider’s home receives upgrade
Auburnjournal.com - Full Article8/15/12
Cool woman adjusting to wheelchair
By Amber Marra, Journal Staff Writer
Friends and family of an injured horseback rider from Cool have come together to bring her ranch up to snuff before she comes home this weekend.
Crystal Costa's ranch has been alive with activity the last few days as neighbors, friends and family work to make her home handicap accessible.
Costa, 50, of Cool, was thrown from her horse while she was training in July for the Tevis Cup near the Francisco's checkpoint. Her horse was startled when a passing mountain biker's wheel slid out in loose gravel.
The fall broke two vertebrae in Costa's back, her eye socket and her nose. The mountain bike rider, Jon Hyatt, of Granite Bay, was in fifth place in the Tahoe-Sierra 100 at the time, but he stayed with Costa until help arrived and has visited her in the hospital since then.
Costa has been in recovery at a San Francisco rehabilitation center since her fall, but has not regained her ability to walk, according to her friend and neighbor, Dan Schafer. He said she will be home from the center by Saturday.
"Her attitude is as aggressive as ever to get back on a horse," Schafer said.
Schafer said that despite having a positive attitude and working hard at the rehabilitation center, his friend he trained with for the Tevis Cup for so long will be bound to a wheelchair...
Read more here:
http://auburnjournal.com/detail/215467.html?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=crystal&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&event_ts_to=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id=
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Back Country Horsemen of America Double Diamond Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2012
Contact: Peg Greiwe, BCHA
1-888-893-5161
Back Country Horsemen of America Double Diamond Award
By Sarah Wynne Jackson
As the United States’ leading organization defending our right to ride horses on public lands, Back Country Horsemen of America are people who pursue excellence in all they do, from clearing trails and repairing bridges to promoting horse-friendly legislation. Appropriately, they go out of their way to recognize those who go above and beyond with the Double Diamond Award.
Recognizing Excellence
Established in 2003 by the National Board of Directors, the Double Diamond Award honors special projects and programs that best exemplify collaborative spirit, community awareness, and devotion to the mission and purpose of BCHA. Eligible projects and programs include, but are not limited to, trail maintenance, trail construction, trailhead construction, educational programs and youth programs.
Applications are judged on the scope and purpose of the project; the ways that the project improved access or benefited the general public or public lands; what was involved in organizing the project; and how the project was accomplished from conception to completion. Applicants may include letters from agencies or private parties that worked with them on the project. Winners are announced at the Back Country Horsemen of America National Board Meeting annual banquet.
Last year, there were six nominations for the Double Diamond Award. As is true every year, all the nominations are outstanding. They demonstrate the broad spectrum of work, dedication to the job at hand, and love of the back country that typifies Back Country Horsemen of America.
Winner of the 2011 Double Diamond Award: John Burns of Salmon River Chapter of BCH Idaho
Demonstrating great initiative, John organized the first annual Heritage Days, a successful two-day event giving participants a taste of back country living, held at Sacajawea Center in Salmon, Idaho. Programs covered many BCH interests such as Leave No Trace, navigating the Rockies without GPS, and packing demonstrations, to illustrate life in the Salmon River area before it was settled.
All Back Country Horsemen activities were held in a camp-like atmosphere, called Camp Discovery. The chapter provided all tents, equipment, handouts, brochures, and maps for the event. The winner of this year’s Double Diamond Award covered all points of the BCHA mission statement: it involved the public (especially youth), was informative to the public, and everyone, volunteer and visitor alike had a fun.
Selway-Pintler Wilderness Chapter of BCH of Montana
The chapter submitted for consideration several projects they worked on this past year, including their Back Country Youth Day. Partnering with Future Farmers of America and 4-H students, this program gave local youth a glimpse into the “back country” lifestyle, such as packing and Dutch oven cooking.
This BCH chapter also provided labor and pack support to Forest Service employees for restoration of the May Creek Cabin on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in western Montana. These hardworking folks used horses and mules to haul 43 loads of shingles, cement, tar paper and native rock, weighing over three tons, a total of 172 miles from the trail head to the cabin site.
John McGray and Annette Howell of Los Padres Chapter of BCH California
Although the Gifford Tank Project required the effort of many volunteers, it was John McGray and Annette Howell’s leadership, very typical of BCH members, that made it happen. John realized that the water tank above the old Gifford Ranch house was seriously dilapidated. Located east of Santa Maria on California Department of Fish and Game land and surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest, it provides water to a system of troughs used by livestock and wildlife.
Annette secured financial assistance from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and a new tank was purchased in 2010. The Forest Service supplied a helicopter to fly the new tank in to the location and fly the old tank out. This project is another great example of how Back Country Horsemen of America folks work with other groups to accomplish a common goal.
Everett Lewis of Traildusters Chapter of BCH Washington
Exhibiting the “can-do” attitude seen in many BCH members, Everett Lewis expanded on a previously produced poster titled “What a Horse Sees,” which educates hikers and cyclists about what to do when they encounter a horse on the trail.
Everett gives many presentations on this topic at cycle shops but did not have visuals, which he felt would explain the message with more clarity. After many hours of preparation and filming, Everett has produced a short video he shows to the public, which is also posted on YouTube. In addition, he created a website and a Facebook page. His efforts have helped make the trails safer for all user groups when coming upon horses on the trail.
BCH of Central Arizona
This nomination is a glowing example of how Back Country Horsemen of America members seek to share trails and solve conflicts amicably rather than exclude other trail users. An unfortunate incident between equestrians and mountain bikers on a trail brought attention to the issue of riders and cyclists using the same trails. Some riders believed that horses had priority over cyclists, as equestrians had created, built and maintained these trails.
Jim and Gayle Higgs and other chapter members along with the Prescott Trail Safety Coalition, an organization formed by bikers and hikers, came together to work out solutions regarding trail use amenable to all parties. The two groups were able to resolve the situation and horses remain on the trails.
Bud Bailey of Priest River Chapter of BCH Idaho
This project at Trail Creek Trail, part of the trail system of the northern Cabinet Mountains of Idaho, took three years to complete. The trail head had no amenities, inadequate parking, and horse use was limited due to the lack of a turn-around for rigs and poor connector trail access to the rest of the trail system.
Under the leadership of Bud Bailey, the chapter and members of the community volunteered their time, labor and materials to construct horse corrals, highlines, hitch rails, tent pads, ample parking, and a modern vault toilet. They also refurbished the connector trails. The result is a modern, user-friendly trail head for all trail users to enjoy.
About Back Country Horsemen of America
BCHA is a non-profit corporation made up of state organizations, affiliates, and at large members. Their efforts have brought about positive changes in regards to the use of horses and stock in the wilderness and public lands.
If you want to know more about Back Country Horsemen of America or become a member, visit their website: www.backcountryhorse.com, call 888-893-5161, or write PO Box 1367, Graham, WA 98338-1367. The future of horse use on public lands is in our hands!
August 14, 2012
Contact: Peg Greiwe, BCHA
1-888-893-5161
Back Country Horsemen of America Double Diamond Award
By Sarah Wynne Jackson
As the United States’ leading organization defending our right to ride horses on public lands, Back Country Horsemen of America are people who pursue excellence in all they do, from clearing trails and repairing bridges to promoting horse-friendly legislation. Appropriately, they go out of their way to recognize those who go above and beyond with the Double Diamond Award.
Recognizing Excellence
Established in 2003 by the National Board of Directors, the Double Diamond Award honors special projects and programs that best exemplify collaborative spirit, community awareness, and devotion to the mission and purpose of BCHA. Eligible projects and programs include, but are not limited to, trail maintenance, trail construction, trailhead construction, educational programs and youth programs.
Applications are judged on the scope and purpose of the project; the ways that the project improved access or benefited the general public or public lands; what was involved in organizing the project; and how the project was accomplished from conception to completion. Applicants may include letters from agencies or private parties that worked with them on the project. Winners are announced at the Back Country Horsemen of America National Board Meeting annual banquet.
Last year, there were six nominations for the Double Diamond Award. As is true every year, all the nominations are outstanding. They demonstrate the broad spectrum of work, dedication to the job at hand, and love of the back country that typifies Back Country Horsemen of America.
Winner of the 2011 Double Diamond Award: John Burns of Salmon River Chapter of BCH Idaho
Demonstrating great initiative, John organized the first annual Heritage Days, a successful two-day event giving participants a taste of back country living, held at Sacajawea Center in Salmon, Idaho. Programs covered many BCH interests such as Leave No Trace, navigating the Rockies without GPS, and packing demonstrations, to illustrate life in the Salmon River area before it was settled.
All Back Country Horsemen activities were held in a camp-like atmosphere, called Camp Discovery. The chapter provided all tents, equipment, handouts, brochures, and maps for the event. The winner of this year’s Double Diamond Award covered all points of the BCHA mission statement: it involved the public (especially youth), was informative to the public, and everyone, volunteer and visitor alike had a fun.
Selway-Pintler Wilderness Chapter of BCH of Montana
The chapter submitted for consideration several projects they worked on this past year, including their Back Country Youth Day. Partnering with Future Farmers of America and 4-H students, this program gave local youth a glimpse into the “back country” lifestyle, such as packing and Dutch oven cooking.
This BCH chapter also provided labor and pack support to Forest Service employees for restoration of the May Creek Cabin on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in western Montana. These hardworking folks used horses and mules to haul 43 loads of shingles, cement, tar paper and native rock, weighing over three tons, a total of 172 miles from the trail head to the cabin site.
John McGray and Annette Howell of Los Padres Chapter of BCH California
Although the Gifford Tank Project required the effort of many volunteers, it was John McGray and Annette Howell’s leadership, very typical of BCH members, that made it happen. John realized that the water tank above the old Gifford Ranch house was seriously dilapidated. Located east of Santa Maria on California Department of Fish and Game land and surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest, it provides water to a system of troughs used by livestock and wildlife.
Annette secured financial assistance from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and a new tank was purchased in 2010. The Forest Service supplied a helicopter to fly the new tank in to the location and fly the old tank out. This project is another great example of how Back Country Horsemen of America folks work with other groups to accomplish a common goal.
Everett Lewis of Traildusters Chapter of BCH Washington
Exhibiting the “can-do” attitude seen in many BCH members, Everett Lewis expanded on a previously produced poster titled “What a Horse Sees,” which educates hikers and cyclists about what to do when they encounter a horse on the trail.
Everett gives many presentations on this topic at cycle shops but did not have visuals, which he felt would explain the message with more clarity. After many hours of preparation and filming, Everett has produced a short video he shows to the public, which is also posted on YouTube. In addition, he created a website and a Facebook page. His efforts have helped make the trails safer for all user groups when coming upon horses on the trail.
BCH of Central Arizona
This nomination is a glowing example of how Back Country Horsemen of America members seek to share trails and solve conflicts amicably rather than exclude other trail users. An unfortunate incident between equestrians and mountain bikers on a trail brought attention to the issue of riders and cyclists using the same trails. Some riders believed that horses had priority over cyclists, as equestrians had created, built and maintained these trails.
Jim and Gayle Higgs and other chapter members along with the Prescott Trail Safety Coalition, an organization formed by bikers and hikers, came together to work out solutions regarding trail use amenable to all parties. The two groups were able to resolve the situation and horses remain on the trails.
Bud Bailey of Priest River Chapter of BCH Idaho
This project at Trail Creek Trail, part of the trail system of the northern Cabinet Mountains of Idaho, took three years to complete. The trail head had no amenities, inadequate parking, and horse use was limited due to the lack of a turn-around for rigs and poor connector trail access to the rest of the trail system.
Under the leadership of Bud Bailey, the chapter and members of the community volunteered their time, labor and materials to construct horse corrals, highlines, hitch rails, tent pads, ample parking, and a modern vault toilet. They also refurbished the connector trails. The result is a modern, user-friendly trail head for all trail users to enjoy.
About Back Country Horsemen of America
BCHA is a non-profit corporation made up of state organizations, affiliates, and at large members. Their efforts have brought about positive changes in regards to the use of horses and stock in the wilderness and public lands.
If you want to know more about Back Country Horsemen of America or become a member, visit their website: www.backcountryhorse.com, call 888-893-5161, or write PO Box 1367, Graham, WA 98338-1367. The future of horse use on public lands is in our hands!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
WEC Bound - Heather Reynolds
ReynoldsRacing.usby Heather Reynolds
Monday, 13 August 2012
Picture above is of the actual container the 3 horses are loaded into before being put on the plane. That is disinfectant in the pic as well.
After Tevis, on Sunday morning just after the Haggin Cup judging, Jeremy and I loaded up Cleo and Stirgess and headed back to Lake Tahoe. We drove 2+ hours East, unloaded and cared for Stirgess and Cleo and then loaded up Kutt, Marvel and Kingley and headed West.
6 hours of heading West later, around 8 pm we arrived in San Jose at our pasture. Kingley got to go out but Kutt and Marvel were offered a drink and saddled up. We couldn't afford to not ride them as we had an 18 mile beach ride scheduled for 7:30 am Monday morning (low tide) and we did not want a tie up. As we cantered along in the dark, I smiled and laughed as I told Jeremy that I bet no one else who rode Tevis the day before was galloping in the dark on Sunday night!
The beach ride went really well on Monday and Wed. Becky and Pete joined us too. Friday we rode once more and then all throughout the week our amazing body worker, Dixie Snyder worked on us and the horses multiple times. Very awesome.
The horses were scheduled to fly on Tuesday. On Friday we were told that it would be a few days delayed! After a lot of back and forth, the horses needed to be at the airport earlier than the original plan. They needed to be at Jetpets at LAX at 3 pm on Sunday. We carpooled and had all three horses in Becky and Judith's rig by 8 am and we were headed South...
Read more here:
http://www.reynoldsracing.us/heathers_blog/view/405/wec_bound
The “Easy Team” Takes Top Four Places in the Western States 100-Mile Trail Ride
Arabianhorseworld.com - Full Article
August 13 2012
by Genie Stewart-Spears
Of the 206 competitors that left the starting line on August 4, 2012, in the 57th Annual 100-Mile Western States Trail Ride (aka Tevis Cup), only 98 would cross the finish line within the 24-hour timeline and receive their well-deserved belt buckle. For most, that was the only quest — to earn the prestigious belt buckle. But for a few, the goal was to win or top ten the event that traverses the rugged and sometimes dangerous and unforgiving Sierra Nevada mountains and canyons.
Past Tevis winners and current U.S. World Championship team members going to Great Britain this month (on different horses), Jeremy and Heather Reynolds were strong contenders but were unable to complete. Jeremy was out within 4 miles of the start when his horse went off the trail and plunged 25-30 feet down a cliff. Reynolds was battered but okay, and his mare Cleopatrah (*Calin De Louve x SRF Calera) required sutures from the fall. His wife Heather was going strong on Stirgess (*Virgule Al Maury x Star Path) with the leaders until 85 miles, when a sudden lameness took her from the competition. Although disappointed, Heather said, “We got rid of any bad luck so London should really be awesome!...”
Read more here:
http://www.arabianhorseworld.com/live/breaking_news/2012/08/tevis-cup/
August 13 2012
by Genie Stewart-Spears
Of the 206 competitors that left the starting line on August 4, 2012, in the 57th Annual 100-Mile Western States Trail Ride (aka Tevis Cup), only 98 would cross the finish line within the 24-hour timeline and receive their well-deserved belt buckle. For most, that was the only quest — to earn the prestigious belt buckle. But for a few, the goal was to win or top ten the event that traverses the rugged and sometimes dangerous and unforgiving Sierra Nevada mountains and canyons.
Past Tevis winners and current U.S. World Championship team members going to Great Britain this month (on different horses), Jeremy and Heather Reynolds were strong contenders but were unable to complete. Jeremy was out within 4 miles of the start when his horse went off the trail and plunged 25-30 feet down a cliff. Reynolds was battered but okay, and his mare Cleopatrah (*Calin De Louve x SRF Calera) required sutures from the fall. His wife Heather was going strong on Stirgess (*Virgule Al Maury x Star Path) with the leaders until 85 miles, when a sudden lameness took her from the competition. Although disappointed, Heather said, “We got rid of any bad luck so London should really be awesome!...”
Read more here:
http://www.arabianhorseworld.com/live/breaking_news/2012/08/tevis-cup/
Friday, August 10, 2012
Crook County hosts world championship ride and tie
Libby Volk photo
Centraloregonian.com - Full Article
July 21 2012
by Lon Austin
Endurance athletes from around the world descend on Ochoco Mountains for event
Eleven-year-old Spencer Wilde held his hat high in the air.
As Wilde swung his hat toward the ground, 35 pairs of runners and horseback riders started out across an open meadow, beginning the 42nd annual Ride and Tie World Championship.
Dust swirled in the air as runners and riders hit a dusty trail starting the 33-mile endurance race high in the Ochoco Mountains.
“I thought it went pretty well,” said Ben Volk, Ride and Tie Association President, and part of the race’s winning team. “It was a good course. We like to have the winning team finish in between four and four and a half hours and we were about 4:20, so that’s about right.”
Teammates took turns running along marked trails, or riding on horseback as racers struggled with the heat along the trails near Bandit Springs.
Volk, 47, and his teammate, Dennis Summers, 53, along with their horse OMR Tsunami, surged to the lead midway through the race, and held on to win in a time of 4:22. Defending race champions Jim (57) and Sarah Howard (20), riding Magic Scirocco, came in second in a time of 4:32, while Mary Tiscornia (67) , and Mark Richtman (57) on Nero finished close behind in third place with a time of 4:36.
At the other end of the spectrum, Jennifer Nunoz (33), and Karen Perkins, (46), riding L.P. were the final team to finish with a time of 10:20. Perkins struggled the entire race, getting lost several times and even breaking a finger in the first mile of the race. She ended up covering an estimated 40 miles over...
Read more here:
http://www.centraloregonian.com/PCOSports7.shtml
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Toth secures Haggin Cup
Auburnjournal.com - Full Article
8/7/12
Photos by Michael Kirby here:
http://auburnjournal.com/detail/214561.html
Fourth-place finisher gets high marks for horse health
By Amber Marra, Journal Staff Writer
Rusty Toth, of Durango, Colo., was awarded the Haggin Cup after last weekend's Tevis Cup.
Toth rode Farrabba, otherwise known as Stoner, an 11-year-old Arabian, to a fourth-place finish Saturday night. After the 100-mile ride, Farrabba was not only deemed able to go on by veterinarians at the finish, he was also determined to be in the best condition, securing the Haggin Cup.
The Haggin Cup is reserved for the one horse in the best condition out of the top 10 finishers of the Tevis Cup, which is an annual endurance ride that draws competitors from around the world.
Kathie Perry, president of the Western States Trail Foundation, said vets look at how the horse has recovered throughout the race and evaluate if it would be able to continue riding.
"The key thing is the horse's soundness, if you could get back on that horse and go another 50 miles," Perry said.
During this year's Tevis Cup, 98 of the 205 riders that started the ride crossed the finish line and 40 of those finishers received their first ever completion buckles, according to the Tevis Cup website.
Garrett Ford, also of Durango, Colo., finished first this year with his wife, Lisa, in close pursuit. Kevin Myers, also of Durango, finished in third place with Toth right behind him.
Shannon Constanti, of Auburn, came in at fifth place a little more than an hour after Toth. This was Constanti's fifth Tevis Cup and has placed in the top 10 three times.
Read more here:
http://auburnjournal.com/detail/214735.html?content_source=&category_id=2&search_filter=&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&event_ts_to=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id=
8/7/12
Photos by Michael Kirby here:
http://auburnjournal.com/detail/214561.html
Fourth-place finisher gets high marks for horse health
By Amber Marra, Journal Staff Writer
Rusty Toth, of Durango, Colo., was awarded the Haggin Cup after last weekend's Tevis Cup.
Toth rode Farrabba, otherwise known as Stoner, an 11-year-old Arabian, to a fourth-place finish Saturday night. After the 100-mile ride, Farrabba was not only deemed able to go on by veterinarians at the finish, he was also determined to be in the best condition, securing the Haggin Cup.
The Haggin Cup is reserved for the one horse in the best condition out of the top 10 finishers of the Tevis Cup, which is an annual endurance ride that draws competitors from around the world.
Kathie Perry, president of the Western States Trail Foundation, said vets look at how the horse has recovered throughout the race and evaluate if it would be able to continue riding.
"The key thing is the horse's soundness, if you could get back on that horse and go another 50 miles," Perry said.
During this year's Tevis Cup, 98 of the 205 riders that started the ride crossed the finish line and 40 of those finishers received their first ever completion buckles, according to the Tevis Cup website.
Garrett Ford, also of Durango, Colo., finished first this year with his wife, Lisa, in close pursuit. Kevin Myers, also of Durango, finished in third place with Toth right behind him.
Shannon Constanti, of Auburn, came in at fifth place a little more than an hour after Toth. This was Constanti's fifth Tevis Cup and has placed in the top 10 three times.
Read more here:
http://auburnjournal.com/detail/214735.html?content_source=&category_id=2&search_filter=&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&event_ts_to=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id=
Friday, August 03, 2012
SOS - Sweep Riders of the Sierra's
SOS.wstrail.orgAugust 3 2012
Sweep Riders Of the Sierra’s (SOS), is an all-volunteer riding group established to provide safety and on-trail communications for endurance events on the Western States Trail and other Northern California locations.

Our responsibility during these events is to "sweep the trail," that is, to follow the last few runners or riders and assure that no one is lost or injured.
Each sweep team is comprised of 2 to 3 riders, sweeping one section of the trail from 7 to 20 miles in length before being relieved by a fresh team. Over some parts of the course, we also deploy a second mounted team in the middle of "the pack" to provide added coverage.
SOS Team Leaders are experienced riders who are also licensed amateur radio operators. Using hand-held HAM equipment, they keep contact with the central Event Control station while traversing the sometimes remote and otherwise inaccessible trail. GPS equipment is also carried so as to provide accurate location information to emergency rescue units, such as MedEvac helicopters.
Team Members each carry a full pack of survival and first aid supplies. In the event of an incident on the trail, involving injuries or otherwise, teams also gather informationfor review by Event management, Comm management and SOS itself.
SOS riders will participate in the Tevis Cup on August 4.
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Volunteers help hold together Tevis Cup
Auburnjournal.com - Full Article
8/1/12
Some have been involved for more than 20 years
By Amber Marra, Journal Staff Writer
Judy Suter knows that the Tevis Cup isn't just about the horses and riders; it's about the army of volunteers that help make the whole event happen.
Suter is the head volunteer coordinator for the Western States Trail Foundation and oversees the 800 volunteers it takes to make the 100-mile race happen every year.
Of those 800 volunteers there are 40 head volunteers stationed throughout the various checkpoints throughout the race.
Horses have to be checked by a veterinarian at each stop to ensure they can continue on. If they can't, the horse and rider are pulled from the race.
Each checkpoint has around 30 volunteers and usually four veterinarians. Some of the busier checkpoints can have up to 70 volunteers, according to Suter.
Volunteers are responsible for giving riders their timecards so they can know when they were in and out of the checkpoint and at some stops giving weary horses and riders food and water.
Suter, who has two Tevis buckles of her own, knows how exhausting the ride can be and how important the stops are.
"I may ride again someday, but I was doing so many endurance rides at one time I ended up deciding to help with the ride instead," Suter said...
Read more here:
http://auburnjournal.com/detail/214296.html
8/1/12
Some have been involved for more than 20 years
By Amber Marra, Journal Staff Writer
Judy Suter knows that the Tevis Cup isn't just about the horses and riders; it's about the army of volunteers that help make the whole event happen.
Suter is the head volunteer coordinator for the Western States Trail Foundation and oversees the 800 volunteers it takes to make the 100-mile race happen every year.
Of those 800 volunteers there are 40 head volunteers stationed throughout the various checkpoints throughout the race.
Horses have to be checked by a veterinarian at each stop to ensure they can continue on. If they can't, the horse and rider are pulled from the race.
Each checkpoint has around 30 volunteers and usually four veterinarians. Some of the busier checkpoints can have up to 70 volunteers, according to Suter.
Volunteers are responsible for giving riders their timecards so they can know when they were in and out of the checkpoint and at some stops giving weary horses and riders food and water.
Suter, who has two Tevis buckles of her own, knows how exhausting the ride can be and how important the stops are.
"I may ride again someday, but I was doing so many endurance rides at one time I ended up deciding to help with the ride instead," Suter said...
Read more here:
http://auburnjournal.com/detail/214296.html
Enroll in AMHA's Newest Program and Win Prizes!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Christina Koliander
chris@morganhorse.com
(802) 985-4944 ext. 402
SHELBURNE, VT—Do you compete with a half Morgan? Are you beating others in the open arena? If your answer is yes, consider enrolling in AMHA's newest competition recognition program dedicated solely to half Morgans!
Patterned after AMHA's Open Competition Program, the Half Morgan Competition Program (HCMP) is divided into five distinct divisions: Open Show, Dressage, Carriage/CDE, Eventing, and Endurance/Competitive Trail. Horses are accepted in the program with an initial enrollment fee, with nominal renewal fees annually thereafter.
As part of enrollment, the sire or dam of the half Morgan must be registered with AMHA and the name must be known and will be verified. Full-blooded Morgans are ineligible for this program. All horses, owners, and those who compete with the horse must be AMHA members. Points are accumulated following each competition and submitted for year-end awards in each division.
"The Half Morgan Recognition Program was established in the fall of 2011 because AMHA perceived a need to honor horses with Morgan breed crossings," said AMHA Executive Director, Julie Broadway. "We wanted to recognize the beauty and fine traits that the Morgan horse passes on to its offspring, regardless of the cross. Half Morgans frequently have characteristics similar to their Morgan parent--big hearts, strong work ethics, intelligence, and versatility."
For more information on this exciting new program, visit www.morganhorse.com/competitions/hmcp or contact Taylor Royals at (802) 985-4944 ext. 401, email taylor@morganhorse.com.
Founded in 1909, the American Morgan Horse Association is a non-profit organization serving more than 50,000 Morgan horse owners, breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts throughout the United States. AMHA serves as a parent organization to more than 90 recognized Morgan horse clubs and national service organizations.
For more information on America’s original horse breed, contact the American Morgan Horse Association, Inc., 4066 Shelburne Road, Suite 5, Shelburne, Vermont 05482; (802) 985-4944; www.morganhorse.com.
Contact: Christina Koliander
chris@morganhorse.com
(802) 985-4944 ext. 402
SHELBURNE, VT—Do you compete with a half Morgan? Are you beating others in the open arena? If your answer is yes, consider enrolling in AMHA's newest competition recognition program dedicated solely to half Morgans!
Patterned after AMHA's Open Competition Program, the Half Morgan Competition Program (HCMP) is divided into five distinct divisions: Open Show, Dressage, Carriage/CDE, Eventing, and Endurance/Competitive Trail. Horses are accepted in the program with an initial enrollment fee, with nominal renewal fees annually thereafter.
As part of enrollment, the sire or dam of the half Morgan must be registered with AMHA and the name must be known and will be verified. Full-blooded Morgans are ineligible for this program. All horses, owners, and those who compete with the horse must be AMHA members. Points are accumulated following each competition and submitted for year-end awards in each division.
"The Half Morgan Recognition Program was established in the fall of 2011 because AMHA perceived a need to honor horses with Morgan breed crossings," said AMHA Executive Director, Julie Broadway. "We wanted to recognize the beauty and fine traits that the Morgan horse passes on to its offspring, regardless of the cross. Half Morgans frequently have characteristics similar to their Morgan parent--big hearts, strong work ethics, intelligence, and versatility."
For more information on this exciting new program, visit www.morganhorse.com/competitions/hmcp or contact Taylor Royals at (802) 985-4944 ext. 401, email taylor@morganhorse.com.
Founded in 1909, the American Morgan Horse Association is a non-profit organization serving more than 50,000 Morgan horse owners, breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts throughout the United States. AMHA serves as a parent organization to more than 90 recognized Morgan horse clubs and national service organizations.
For more information on America’s original horse breed, contact the American Morgan Horse Association, Inc., 4066 Shelburne Road, Suite 5, Shelburne, Vermont 05482; (802) 985-4944; www.morganhorse.com.
FOSH Gaited Distance Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2012
Contact Person: Teresa Bippen
Tbippen1957@yahoo.com
Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) is pleased to announce the first distance recognition program for gaited horses beginning in 2013. The Gaited Distance Program promotes FOSH Sound Principles by recording mileage of the gaited distance horses competing in veterinarian sanctioned endurance, limited distance or competitive trail events and recognizes, honors and rewards the work of that horse. Each year’s program will run from January 1 through December 31.
The FOSH Gaited Distance Program (GDP) includes Competitive Trail Riding and Endurance Riding, Year-End High Mileage Awards, 1,000 Mile Awards, and the FOSH Commemorative Award Program. Winners will be announced in the FOSH Sound Advocate magazine, on the FOSH website and in press releases.
Many gaited horse breeds have provided smooth comfortable rides for their riders while successfully competing in distance riding programs. Some of these breeds include the Tennessee Walking Horse, Spotted Saddle Horse, Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, Racking Horse, Paso Fino, Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses, Rocky Mountain Horse and more.
The FOSH Gaited Horse Distance program rules and forms are currently available at the website for individuals wishing to register their horses for 2013 competition. The website is open in advance of the January 1, 2013 start date to allow visitors to view the site and offer comments.
The FOSH Gaited Distance Program (GDP) is the first division under the FOSH Gaited Sport Horse initiative with the other divisions under development being Gaited Dressage and Gaited Equine Agility. As awards, eligibility and rules are developed for these divisions, they will be posted at www.foshgaitedsporthorse.com.
FOSH is a national leader in the promotion of natural, sound gaited horses and in the fight against abuse and soring of Tennessee Walking Horses. For more information about FOSH or to become a member, please visit www.fosh.info or e-mail data@fosh.info .
July 31, 2012
Contact Person: Teresa Bippen
Tbippen1957@yahoo.com
Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) is pleased to announce the first distance recognition program for gaited horses beginning in 2013. The Gaited Distance Program promotes FOSH Sound Principles by recording mileage of the gaited distance horses competing in veterinarian sanctioned endurance, limited distance or competitive trail events and recognizes, honors and rewards the work of that horse. Each year’s program will run from January 1 through December 31.
The FOSH Gaited Distance Program (GDP) includes Competitive Trail Riding and Endurance Riding, Year-End High Mileage Awards, 1,000 Mile Awards, and the FOSH Commemorative Award Program. Winners will be announced in the FOSH Sound Advocate magazine, on the FOSH website and in press releases.
Many gaited horse breeds have provided smooth comfortable rides for their riders while successfully competing in distance riding programs. Some of these breeds include the Tennessee Walking Horse, Spotted Saddle Horse, Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, Racking Horse, Paso Fino, Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses, Rocky Mountain Horse and more.
The FOSH Gaited Horse Distance program rules and forms are currently available at the website for individuals wishing to register their horses for 2013 competition. The website is open in advance of the January 1, 2013 start date to allow visitors to view the site and offer comments.
The FOSH Gaited Distance Program (GDP) is the first division under the FOSH Gaited Sport Horse initiative with the other divisions under development being Gaited Dressage and Gaited Equine Agility. As awards, eligibility and rules are developed for these divisions, they will be posted at www.foshgaitedsporthorse.com.
FOSH is a national leader in the promotion of natural, sound gaited horses and in the fight against abuse and soring of Tennessee Walking Horses. For more information about FOSH or to become a member, please visit www.fosh.info or e-mail data@fosh.info .
Horse Health Research Abounds at 2012 Tevis Cup
Thehorse.com - Full Article
by: Marsha Hayes
July 31 2012, Article # 20407
When the 2012 Tevis Cup begins at dawn Aug. 4, more than 200 horses will leave Robie Park near Lake Tahoe, Calif., and proceed toward a finish line 100 miles away in Auburn, Calif. For some competitors it is a race for the cup; for others it's a personal challenge to simply complete the ride in the allotted 24 hours. But for the 15 ride veterinarians and two treating veterinarians, this year's renewal of the Tevis Cup offers a fertile research opportunity.
Head treating veterinarian Langdon Fielding, DVM, Dipl. ACVECC, of Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center, in Loomis, Calif., will lead a study during the ride titled "Creation of a Metabolic Score Based on Basic Laboratory Parameters." In Fielding's letter to ride participants he explained his objective was "to create a metabolic score using basic blood electrolyte and hydration parameters that can be used to identify endurance horses that are metabolically compromised." Tevis treating veterinarian Gary Magdesian, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, ACVCP, associate professor at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, and head ride veterinarian Greg Fellers, DVM, have partnered with Fielding for the project.
For each horse that reaches the 36-mile check point, veterinarians will collect a small (1-3 milliliter) sample of blood into a heparinized syringe and analyze it on site. They will do this immediately after the horse has reached the required heart rate of 60 beats per minute or less and before starting the mandatory one-hour hold, or rest period. Anticipated collection time will be approximately five to 10 seconds per horse so as not to delay horses at the check point...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=20407
by: Marsha Hayes
July 31 2012, Article # 20407
When the 2012 Tevis Cup begins at dawn Aug. 4, more than 200 horses will leave Robie Park near Lake Tahoe, Calif., and proceed toward a finish line 100 miles away in Auburn, Calif. For some competitors it is a race for the cup; for others it's a personal challenge to simply complete the ride in the allotted 24 hours. But for the 15 ride veterinarians and two treating veterinarians, this year's renewal of the Tevis Cup offers a fertile research opportunity.
Head treating veterinarian Langdon Fielding, DVM, Dipl. ACVECC, of Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center, in Loomis, Calif., will lead a study during the ride titled "Creation of a Metabolic Score Based on Basic Laboratory Parameters." In Fielding's letter to ride participants he explained his objective was "to create a metabolic score using basic blood electrolyte and hydration parameters that can be used to identify endurance horses that are metabolically compromised." Tevis treating veterinarian Gary Magdesian, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, ACVCP, associate professor at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, and head ride veterinarian Greg Fellers, DVM, have partnered with Fielding for the project.
For each horse that reaches the 36-mile check point, veterinarians will collect a small (1-3 milliliter) sample of blood into a heparinized syringe and analyze it on site. They will do this immediately after the horse has reached the required heart rate of 60 beats per minute or less and before starting the mandatory one-hour hold, or rest period. Anticipated collection time will be approximately five to 10 seconds per horse so as not to delay horses at the check point...
Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=20407
Going the distance with endurance riding
Bill Gore Photo
SFGate.com - Full Article
Stephanie M. Lee
Published 06:19 p.m., Tuesday, July 31, 2012
As the saying goes, Nick Warhol knows how to ride a horse into the sunset - for 50 or 100 miles at a time. An endurance horseback rider, Warhol has raced 10,400 miles over two decades' worth of competitions. He couldn't do it, of course, without his trusty steed Donnie, who has 4,300 miles under his metaphorical belt. (Vets check the animals' health periodically during races.) For more information, check out the American Endurance Ride Conference at www.aerc.org.
Name: Nick Warhol
Age: 55
Residence: Hayward
Occupation: Vice president of operations at Vigilent Corp. in El Cerrito
Obsession: Endurance riding
How you got started: I was never a horse person and did not ride a horse until I was 33 years old. I got my wife a horse for a college graduation present in 1990, thinking it would give her a real hobby of her own, since I had so many. I had no idea what a horse really was, or that they were individuals. My plan backfired, and I got sucked in. I got my first horse in 1991, and the rest is history.
Essential equipment: You need a horse (preferably an Arabian), a saddle, a truck, trailer, camper and more horse tack and supplies than you could ever imagine. Having a 10-acre ranch also really helps...
Read more here:
http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Going-the-distance-with-endurance-riding-3751775.php
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Information About the Upcoming Tevis Cup Ride
Renegadehorseboot.com - Full Article
JULY 26, 2012 BY NEWS EDITOR
It is just over one week away from the “Western States Trail Ride,” most commonly referred to as the “Tevis Cup Ride,” or simply, “the Tevis.” The Tevis is the world’s oldest modern endurance ride, first held in 1955, and is also considered “the world’s best-known and most difficult equestrian endurance ride.” The Tevis is officially sanctioned by the AERC (American Endurance Ride Conference.)
Riders have 24 hours to travel the 100-mile course: from the starting point near the shores of Lake Tahoe, just outside of Truckee, CA, across the rugged Sierra Nevadas, to the finishing point in Auburn, CA. Riders must finish with a horse that is deemed “fit to continue” by a team of veterinarians.
Horses must also pass a number of thorough vet-checks held at multiple locations along the trail, some of which also include mandatory rest periods, before being allowed to continue. They are checked for their pulse and respiration, metabolics including hydration and gut function, and a trot-out to evaluate attitude, way of going, and to check for any unsoundness.
The trail can take its toll: historically, only about 50% of those who start the ride will cross the finish line. Horses and riders both have to contend with the mountain trail that is both physically and mentally demanding. The trail itself is rugged, traversing the magnificent Sierra Nevada mountain range. The footing is often extremely rocky, with parts of the trail going through sections of granite rock wilderness. Other parts of the trail travel along hard-packed forest service roads, and even on paved streets through the small towns of Michigan Bluff and Foresthill.
In the last number of years, anywhere from 175-200 horses have started the ride each year: both horse and rider have to be able to contend with the excitement and chaos of that many horses at the start. The ride is held in July or August, as close to the full moon as possible. Summer temperatures soar as the ride descends towards lower elevations, and it is not uncommon for temperatures to reach triple digits within the canyons in the middle of the day.
Riders who cross the finish line with a horse that is deemed “fit to continue” (just as it sounds: the horse should be metabolically and physically sound and able to continue on; a horse who is lame at the finish or is presenting a metabolic issue will not be awarded a completion) are awarded one of the coveted silver completion buckles.
In addition, several other awards are presented:
The Tevis Cup is awarded to the first-place finisher who finished with the fastest time and a horse still “fit to continue.”
The Haggin Cup is the “Best Condition” awarded to the horse finishing in the Top Ten placings who is judged by a team of veterinarians to be “in the most superior physical condition.”
The Josephine Stedem Scripps Foundation Cup recognizes all of the junior riders who complete each year...
Read more here:
http://www.renegadehorseboot.com/information-about-the-upcoming-tevis-cup-ride/
JULY 26, 2012 BY NEWS EDITOR
It is just over one week away from the “Western States Trail Ride,” most commonly referred to as the “Tevis Cup Ride,” or simply, “the Tevis.” The Tevis is the world’s oldest modern endurance ride, first held in 1955, and is also considered “the world’s best-known and most difficult equestrian endurance ride.” The Tevis is officially sanctioned by the AERC (American Endurance Ride Conference.)
Riders have 24 hours to travel the 100-mile course: from the starting point near the shores of Lake Tahoe, just outside of Truckee, CA, across the rugged Sierra Nevadas, to the finishing point in Auburn, CA. Riders must finish with a horse that is deemed “fit to continue” by a team of veterinarians.
Horses must also pass a number of thorough vet-checks held at multiple locations along the trail, some of which also include mandatory rest periods, before being allowed to continue. They are checked for their pulse and respiration, metabolics including hydration and gut function, and a trot-out to evaluate attitude, way of going, and to check for any unsoundness.
The trail can take its toll: historically, only about 50% of those who start the ride will cross the finish line. Horses and riders both have to contend with the mountain trail that is both physically and mentally demanding. The trail itself is rugged, traversing the magnificent Sierra Nevada mountain range. The footing is often extremely rocky, with parts of the trail going through sections of granite rock wilderness. Other parts of the trail travel along hard-packed forest service roads, and even on paved streets through the small towns of Michigan Bluff and Foresthill.
In the last number of years, anywhere from 175-200 horses have started the ride each year: both horse and rider have to be able to contend with the excitement and chaos of that many horses at the start. The ride is held in July or August, as close to the full moon as possible. Summer temperatures soar as the ride descends towards lower elevations, and it is not uncommon for temperatures to reach triple digits within the canyons in the middle of the day.
Riders who cross the finish line with a horse that is deemed “fit to continue” (just as it sounds: the horse should be metabolically and physically sound and able to continue on; a horse who is lame at the finish or is presenting a metabolic issue will not be awarded a completion) are awarded one of the coveted silver completion buckles.
In addition, several other awards are presented:
The Tevis Cup is awarded to the first-place finisher who finished with the fastest time and a horse still “fit to continue.”
The Haggin Cup is the “Best Condition” awarded to the horse finishing in the Top Ten placings who is judged by a team of veterinarians to be “in the most superior physical condition.”
The Josephine Stedem Scripps Foundation Cup recognizes all of the junior riders who complete each year...
Read more here:
http://www.renegadehorseboot.com/information-about-the-upcoming-tevis-cup-ride/
Auburn woman to ride 30th Tevis Cup
Auburnjournal.com - Full Article
July 29 2012
Perry has completed race 21 times
By Amber Marra, Journal Staff Writer
Kathie Perry has seen her fair share of the trail over the years, but fear has never ridden with her.
Perry, of Auburn, will ride in her 30th Tevis Cup next week. She has 21 completions under her belt, one first-place finish in 1978 and has been pulled from the race eight times. She is also the president of the Western States Trail Foundation.
Since she began endurance riding and competing in the Tevis Cup in 1975, Perry has dealt with the challenges of the trail and taken everything that comes with it in stride, including three broken ribs last year.
But when it comes to the day of the ride, she knows no fear.
"Once it starts you're out there but a week after I'll go out and ride the trails again and pull down ribbons and say ‘wow, I did this in the dark or at a trot,'" Perry said. "It all comes back to you and you realize the thing that you've conquered."
Perry started endurance riding around 40 years ago, but she's been around horses her entire life. Originally a Kansas girl, Perry grew up on a farm surrounded by horses.
Her father decided that California would be a better place to raise his children, so they moved to the Bay Area. Eventually, a love of endurance riding would bring Perry and her husband, Ernie Perry, to Auburn. The Perrys rode quarter horses early on in their marriage but switched to Arabians when they became involved in endurance rides.
As a matter of fact, the sole reason Perry wanted to move here was the Tevis Cup...
Read more here:
http://auburnjournal.com/detail/214086.html
July 29 2012
Perry has completed race 21 times
By Amber Marra, Journal Staff Writer
Kathie Perry has seen her fair share of the trail over the years, but fear has never ridden with her.
Perry, of Auburn, will ride in her 30th Tevis Cup next week. She has 21 completions under her belt, one first-place finish in 1978 and has been pulled from the race eight times. She is also the president of the Western States Trail Foundation.
Since she began endurance riding and competing in the Tevis Cup in 1975, Perry has dealt with the challenges of the trail and taken everything that comes with it in stride, including three broken ribs last year.
But when it comes to the day of the ride, she knows no fear.
"Once it starts you're out there but a week after I'll go out and ride the trails again and pull down ribbons and say ‘wow, I did this in the dark or at a trot,'" Perry said. "It all comes back to you and you realize the thing that you've conquered."
Perry started endurance riding around 40 years ago, but she's been around horses her entire life. Originally a Kansas girl, Perry grew up on a farm surrounded by horses.
Her father decided that California would be a better place to raise his children, so they moved to the Bay Area. Eventually, a love of endurance riding would bring Perry and her husband, Ernie Perry, to Auburn. The Perrys rode quarter horses early on in their marriage but switched to Arabians when they became involved in endurance rides.
As a matter of fact, the sole reason Perry wanted to move here was the Tevis Cup...
Read more here:
http://auburnjournal.com/detail/214086.html
Monday, July 30, 2012
Horsin' around: A dude rides the trails of Rock County
Gazettextra.com - Full Article
JANESVILLE — Before last week, I hadn't ridden a horse in earnest since I was 11 years old.
Back then, I'd put on boots and jeans and saddle up old Patch, my Shetland pony, and we'd ride for hours along the fringes of my folks' northern Illinois farm. We'd swish through tall grass, scout fencerows for pheasants and dawdle in the stream that wound through the back yard.
That was years ago. I'm no longer a cowboy. I'm now a guy in his 30s who types for a living. Truth is, I can't remember exactly how to hold a horse's reins, and I couldn't tell a trot from a canter.
So how did I find myself on horseback at Gibbs Lake County Park in rural Janesville, neck deep in of one of Rock County's scattered public equine trails?
Well, I was told by riders, by trail maintenance volunteers and by county parks officials that the county's parks, though limited in size, foster a number of horseback riding trails that serve a growing number of riders.
The idea was to learn about the trails from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
As usually is the case when I get a bright idea for a story, I got in over my head, fast. I agreed to do a ride with bunch of competitive endurance trail riders—a few of them from Australia. All I could do was try to keep up.
"Hey, dude. The trail's this way," said Steve Clibborn, one of the Aussies, from atop his mustang...
Read more here:
http://gazettextra.com/news/2012/jul/29/horsin-around-dude-rides-trails-rock-county/
JANESVILLE — Before last week, I hadn't ridden a horse in earnest since I was 11 years old.
Back then, I'd put on boots and jeans and saddle up old Patch, my Shetland pony, and we'd ride for hours along the fringes of my folks' northern Illinois farm. We'd swish through tall grass, scout fencerows for pheasants and dawdle in the stream that wound through the back yard.
That was years ago. I'm no longer a cowboy. I'm now a guy in his 30s who types for a living. Truth is, I can't remember exactly how to hold a horse's reins, and I couldn't tell a trot from a canter.
So how did I find myself on horseback at Gibbs Lake County Park in rural Janesville, neck deep in of one of Rock County's scattered public equine trails?
Well, I was told by riders, by trail maintenance volunteers and by county parks officials that the county's parks, though limited in size, foster a number of horseback riding trails that serve a growing number of riders.
The idea was to learn about the trails from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
As usually is the case when I get a bright idea for a story, I got in over my head, fast. I agreed to do a ride with bunch of competitive endurance trail riders—a few of them from Australia. All I could do was try to keep up.
"Hey, dude. The trail's this way," said Steve Clibborn, one of the Aussies, from atop his mustang...
Read more here:
http://gazettextra.com/news/2012/jul/29/horsin-around-dude-rides-trails-rock-county/
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Tevis Cup: Dedicated Mile
Sue Walz, Tevis buckle winner in 2004 & 2006, would like to invite all of her father, Bob's friends to participate in the adoption of a mile of trail in Bob's honor. Sue is facing some health challenges of her own and it is her wish that the plaque to commemorate this mile could be presented at the Awards Banquet following this year's ride, August 5, 2012.
Bob's mile, the "Bob Walz Easy Ride Mile", will be mile 76 of the trail, a beautiful stretch of the California Street Loop where can be found a clear spring which fills a trough donated by Julie Suhr. There are many of us who ride Easy Ride Stirrups, now brought to us by our friends at Easy Care.
Bob finished the Tevis in 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, & 1987.
Donations can be sent care of the Bob Walz Mile, Western States Trail Endowment, 150 Gum Lane, Suite 103, Auburn, CA 95603."
Friday, July 27, 2012
Aberdeen rider, horses shine through endurance
Aberdeennews.com - Full Article
BY JOHN PAPENDICK, jpapendick@aberdeennews.com
3:05 a.m. CDT, July 27, 2012
An Aberdeen endurance horse-riding athlete is continuing to add to her world-class resume.
Kelsey Kimbler won the silver medal aboard her family's purebred Arabian horse Fringant at last week's Federation Equestre Internationale 4-Star Championship 75-mile Endurance Race in Kentucky. Plus, Fringant earned the best-conditioned horse award.
Kimbler and Fringant's time was 6 hours, 11 minutes.
Kimbler is a 19-year-old, 2011 Aberdeen Central graduate who will be a sophomore this fall at Northern State.
On Aug. 4, Kimbler and her Arabian horse Cody Canuck - trained by her older sister Kirsten - will tackle the 57th annual Tevis Cup “100 Miles One Day” Ride in California. The American Profile magazine in Monday's American News called the test “the nation's most grueling equine endurance ride.”..
Read more here:
http://www.aberdeennews.com/sports/aan-2b.07-27-12.spts.jpcol-20120727,0,6609742.story
BY JOHN PAPENDICK, jpapendick@aberdeennews.com
3:05 a.m. CDT, July 27, 2012
An Aberdeen endurance horse-riding athlete is continuing to add to her world-class resume.
Kelsey Kimbler won the silver medal aboard her family's purebred Arabian horse Fringant at last week's Federation Equestre Internationale 4-Star Championship 75-mile Endurance Race in Kentucky. Plus, Fringant earned the best-conditioned horse award.
Kimbler and Fringant's time was 6 hours, 11 minutes.
Kimbler is a 19-year-old, 2011 Aberdeen Central graduate who will be a sophomore this fall at Northern State.
On Aug. 4, Kimbler and her Arabian horse Cody Canuck - trained by her older sister Kirsten - will tackle the 57th annual Tevis Cup “100 Miles One Day” Ride in California. The American Profile magazine in Monday's American News called the test “the nation's most grueling equine endurance ride.”..
Read more here:
http://www.aberdeennews.com/sports/aan-2b.07-27-12.spts.jpcol-20120727,0,6609742.story
Previously injured Tevis rider to compete again with son
7/27/12
Thomas was thrown from horse in 2008, broke pelvis, crushed bladder
By Amber Marra, Journal Staff Writer
It's been four years since Luanne Thomas was thrown from a horse in San Francisco, but she still gets nervous when she's in the saddle and things get a little shifty.
Even after completing last year's Tevis Cup, Thomas, of Cool, is still unsure when she's on a trail she isn't comfortable with.
"I still have little panic attacks if my horse stumbles. It takes everything I have to get through some of these narrow trails, even though the accident didn't happen on the trail," Thomas said. "I'm just nervous about waking up in the hospital again."
Thomas will ride in this year's Tevis Cup, but she won't do it alone. This will be the first time her son, Dillon, 13, has ridden the 100-mile endurance race, but he said he's ready, especially after placing first in the junior level of the American Endurance Ride Conference's west region.
"It's just the thrill of it, really. It's just the thrill of Tevis," Dillon said.
Thomas finished the race last year, a big accomplishment for her after taking a few years off from riding.
She did not finish her first attempt at the race and was eager to give it another go in 2008. Thomas was a member of the Sacramento Police Mounted Association for 16 years and decided to attend a training session being held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
That's when Thomas's life was uprooted...
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http://auburnjournal.com/detail/213995.html?content_source=&category_id=2&search_filter=&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&event_ts_to=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id=
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