16 years ago, I made my one and only previous attempt at completing Tevis.
It was on my horse Drut, who was a seasoned NATRC and endurance horse. One
that I could trust whole-heartedly with my life in any trail situation. We
made it as far as Michigan Bluff that year. He was a little off, and we
called it a day, with us both feeling great otherwise. My only other Tevis
connection since then was helping a friend pre-ride the last 40 miles of the
trail with her horses in 1999 and 2000. I had drifted away from distance
riding not long after that attempt so many years ago, and it has taken me
this long to finally have another horse, and get it "all together" to give
it another try. Spending the 5 weeks leading to Tevis on the XP2004 helped
to get myself, and my horse , Rushcreek Gambler in shape. I had a very
different conditioning and training plan than many riders, as I had not done
a lot of rides leading up to the start of the XP in June, and planned to
choose my days to ride him on the XP trail carefully, thinking of the final
goal of doing Tevis. I think many horses are over worked leading to rides
like Tevis, and by the time the ride arrives, they are all used up. We did
one slow 50 mile ride each of the first 4 weeks of the XP, then the final
week, we only did 25's. I looked for days that had some hill work, and just
rode slow, using up most of the day to complete the ride.(lots of hours,
even though slow, helped condition both of us to the potential long day at
Tevis) This horse has been doing endurance for about the last 5 years, and
has a good base of conditioning, including finishing 3 100 mile rides with
the previous owner. But he also has some issues with some of his joints
(mostly hocks) and does not do well with a lot of pounding and extra
conditioning. I had meant to start him on a program of Legend or Adaquan,
but forgot to do so, and ended up heading into Tevis concerned he might be
sore on the hocks from all the hills.

We arrived in Auburn Monday before the ride, coming straight from the end of
the XP. I let the horses mostly rest, and did a couple easy rides out to No
Hands bridge and back.(the other two horses along were Rockhe, and Hank, who
had done days on the XP also) I spent my time also resting, and putting
together my crew bags, and making sure I had everything I needed. One thing
I had to do, was order a few things for my saddle, as I had changed from the
English saddle, to a Bighorn, about week 3 of the XP. I spent all that time
and money before the XP, looking for a saddle to fit the horses and I, and
then found that it placed my legs in a position my hips were unhappy with,
and I was having trouble riding the saddle. Kind of ironic I ended up
changing to a borrowed Bighorn, after all that saddle search. But it was
fitting both myself, and the horses. I needed saddle pads from home, and a
friend was flying from Texas to Reno, so I had my hubby put the pads in a
bag, and Terry brought them to Reno, where I met him in front of the airport
the night I was passing through from the XP to Auburn.(I bet it was not the
first horse trailer to pull through the airport!) I found a local farrier,
and Gambler got his new shoes Wed. afternoon. I rode Thursday, and he seemed
to go well in them, with minimal tripping. This horse does trip a lot, and
we have got most of it fixed, but I feel that the big problem is when his
hocks start to cause him some discomfort, the shifts his weight heavy on to
the forehand, and then has a tendency to trip more. I had been using
Easyboots over his shoes on the XP, and had still not decided what I wanted
to do for Tevis. I finally decided to go without Easyboots (or pads) for
Tevis, and his feet did well.

I got to Robie Park early Friday, settled in, and then got the horse and
myself checked in. I did a ride out the first couple of miles of the trail
that afternoon, to look at the start.. I was not thrilled to see the early
downhills, as this horse is not one that can go quick downhill with the way
he travels. I had no idea how chaotic the start would be, and if we would be
"pushed" to go faster down hill than I was comfortable with. I was planning
to ride the first part of the ride with Sands Dickson of Colorado, and we
decided to start in the "middle group". Tevis has the riders line up along
the road in groups, as to where they want to start. The road is a wide dirt
/ gravel road, with plenty of room. The front runners were up ahead of us
gathered, and the riders who wanted to go slower than us, grouped themselves
behind us on the road. We all waited for about ½ and hour in these groups,
until the 5:15 ride start. It was interesting how very calm over all the
horses were in our group. Some fussed, but most just stood there quiet, as
we waited in the darkness. I was not having butterflies or tension, and had
just been feeling sort of dull, like it was the start of another day of the
XP, only this one longer. In fact, that was the feeling I had been having
all week. Kind of like I was prepping for "just a days ride", instead of the
most well known endurance ride that exists today. I almost felt guilty not
being nervous, with all the other riders around me being fairly tense. Then
we were told the trail was open, and we started trotting out on down the
road. Sands asked me to lead, as her mare likes to be silly early on, and
spook, unless she is following. She had bonded with Gambler at the
fairgrounds, so was more than happy to follow him. We were in the middle of
the pack, but I quickly saw that we better get around a few of these horses
that were being very naughty, and might cause us problems of delays when we
got up to the single track trail up ahead. Gambler was trotting very nice,
and being good boy. (he rarely gets real excited at a ride start anyway) On
the downhills on the road, we slowed to an easy trot, and after we got to
the single track, and the downhills had rocks and poor footing, he would go
into a VERY fast walk, while the others had to jog trot. We found ourselves
in a good position, and had already passed a lot of horses, without having
to push much faster than the over all speed of our group. If you get behind
riders that are having troubles, or slow WAY down, and can't get around, you
can be set way back in your timing. And if you get way behind early on, you
can not gain that time back very easily for the rest of the day. You really,
really have to push quicker at the beginning, to allow for the slow going
you will encounter up in Granite Chief over the boulders and bogs. ( but
not go so fast to use up your horse early on) When we got to the narrow
trail after crossing highway 89, I found by then that Gambler was a horse I
had to steer every step to avoid rocks and such, and that he was already
starting to trip some. Not a horse you could just give him his head, and he
would safely follow the trail without incident. Finally, we hit the road up
out of Squaw, and a break from the single track. We again were able to pass
more horses as we kept an easy trot up most of the road to the top. We were
doing about a 6.8 mph overall pace for the morning as we headed up out of
Squaw Valley (per my GPS). He was feeling very strong and forward. I let him
tell me when he needed to walk some, which he did. After a water stop, it
was up over the top, and the view of the mountains ahead. I have to say, it
was breathtaking. I had a camera along, but too hard to shoot on a trotting
horse. But it is embedded in my memory. We worked our way into the Granite
Chief wilderness, and found ourselves fairly alone, with just another few
horses. Glad to not be in a pack of riders in this stuff. It is very
technical in places, and I can not imagine riding a horse that is in a
hurry, and fighting its rider. They really need to listen, and be sensible.
We saw no accidents, and did not even hear of any until we got to Robinson,
so maybe most were behind us. The boulders and slabs of rocks one must
occasionally go up or down were not for a timid rider, or inexperienced
horse. I had a horse with experience, but he was one who was not being real
good on his feet. Occasional trips or a stumble would put my heart in my
throat. I started thinking ahead to Cougar Rock, and just not sure I trusted
this horse to not fall on it. By the time we cleared the wilderness stuff,
and got to better trail again, our over-all pace was down to about 5.6 mph.
(you lose a lot of time dealing with those rocks and boulders!) Finally,
when we got to Cougar Rock, and the horse in front of me went ½ way up, then
stopped, tap danced, turned around, started backing, and finally came back
down, I took that as a sign to go around. I would have taken my other horse
over in a heartbeat, but not this horse, on this day. Now I was starting to
dread riding him in the dark even more. We got into the pulse check at Red
Star, and I went straight to the vet, and he was down to the required 60
heart rate. Grabbed him a handful of hay, and headed out again. Before
Robinson, Sands went on ahead, and I slowed down along the hard pack road. I
arrived at exactly 11AM, which was the goal. No problem pulsing down and
vetting through. One must do much of the horse care in the vet lines. I
walked along feeding him, and offered water, while in line. This is true
multi tasking! I was feeling pretty good, and the hour went quickly, and
before I knew it, we were heading out again. I had never seen the pucker
point trail going towards Last Chance. Let's just say, you are not puckering
up your lips to kiss anyone. It goes along the edge of a mountain, with a
sheer drop off with what looks like thousands of feet down. Great..and I am
riding "Sir-trips-a lot". But we need to trot, to keep our pace. I have
never had a fear of heights, but I was not about to look over the edge in a
couple of spots that were sheer straight walls down to the bottom. MUCH
further looking down that the trails along the river on the Calif. Loop.
(but not real sure, as I said, I did not look down!) Finally, that is over
with, and we are back on to some dusty jeep trails. Next pulse check we
cruise in, straight to the vet, pulsed down, trot out, sound, grab a half a
flake of hay, and I start leading him down the trail, feeding him as we
walk. You can get stuck in these vet checks in a line or behind those who
are not savvy as to how to get through them quickly if you are not paying
attention, and that can cost you some time.

In the first canyon, I get off to lead him, as it is very rocky, and steep,
and slow going. We are in a line of about 20 riders, all leading down into
the canyon. I had concerns my knees would not let me walk / jog down the
hill, but I never did have any knee problems all day. Somewhere heading down
this canyon, someone had the nerve to ask to pass us. Not sure where they
thought they were going to go in such a long line of horses on a narrow
trail, but they were told "no" by about 8-10 riders and were just stuck
with the rest of us. At the swinging bridge, I did not go down below to the
river, as there is water just past the bridge, and going down below is time
consuming. I would have ridden over it, but there is a sign to tell you to
lead the horse. I rode up out of the canyon, as I was just not in shape to
lead or tail him. Thankfully, the weather was forgiving that day, and not
near as hot as some years have been. These canyons can take their toll on a
horse, and the Deadwood check is after one tough pull up out of a canyon.
Gambler had not been sweating much all day. I think the fact he lives in
Texas, with humidity, he was not as hot as many of the horses were. At
Devils Thumb, we have volunteers with food, water, and such, to revive us,
before going the short distance on into the Deadwood check. I watered,
grabbed some hay, sponged him off some and did not stick around there very
long. I did not want to get stuck behind all those riders who would soon be
heading towards the Deadwood check. (again, we passed a bunch of riders who
seemed to be dilly-dallying at Devils Thumb) Walked and trotted a little
into Deadwood, and went again straight to the vet, and he was pulsed down,
and ready to go. I am lucky to have a horse that is usually pulsed down when
I arrive at the check points.

It is true, they say to ride this ride as a section at a time, not the over
all trail. I was now looking towards Michigan Bluff. I was still not
thrilled about the thought of riding this horse in the dark, on narrow
trails, as he was still scaring me with his trips, and the need to be
directed over every rock. But, he was performing beyond what I expected,
with the exception of the tripping issues. I was amazed that this
"flatlander" horse could trot up some of the hills like he did. Coming up
the canyon towards MB, I found I was at the lead of a string of about 20
riders (probably those who I passed at Devils Thumb). Again, I went straight
to the vet, as I knew that if I waited, I'd for sure get stuck in line, and
have the clock click on as I waited to get the vetting done. After I vetted,
I give Gambler some extra time to eat and rest, before heading into the next
canyon, and then our next 1 hour hold at Foresthill. He ate about a flake of
hay, drank, and was alert, and looking ready to chug on to the next stop.
This canyon seemed to go fairly quick, and one hour later, we were heading
up Bath road, and into the Foresthill vet check. On Bath road, there is a
house that has a couple hoses out in the road, for us to cool the horses off
with. He was damp, but not really sweaty, but I still hosed down everything
except his haunches, and continued up into the vet check. I stripped the
saddle, and went straight to the vet, and was lucky we did not have a line.
The vet asked if he had given me any trouble with his left front, as she saw
a little something. I explained he had not been sore, but he likes to have
me post on the left diagonal, and had been doing this most of the summer.
Never off, just seems happier with me on the left diagonal. She made a note
to watch the left front on vet card, and we took him to the trailer to eat
and such, while I took a quick shower in my camper. Wow, the dirt that came
off of me!!! But after the shower, and clean clothes, I felt much better. I
ate, while my crew tended to Gambler. We checked his legs, and he had very
few scrapes, no sores, and his back was looking good.(the Bighorn was
working fine!) Got him tacked back up, and our hour was heading to an end. I
got the glow bars on his breast collar. As much as I was NOT wanting to ride
off into the darkness on this horse, I figured if he got really bad with
tripping, and I was feeling he was as dangerous as my mind had already made
him, I'd just walk, and get there when I got there. I could not quit just
because I was not thrilled with the horse I was on for the day. We had come
too far, and he was looking really good, and handling the trail physically
and metabolically better than I had expected. He had not been pre-ridden on
this upcoming section of trail, which we had wanted to do before the XP, but
could not swing it. So, I would just have to try to access my memory of the
trail from seeing it in 1999 and 2000, and figure things out as we went.

So, over towards the out timer and "out check"vet, and I hop on him, he
takes a few steps and he feels REALLY lame. Like a rock in the foot. I ask
someone to check his left front for a rock, but it is clean. I then get off,
check his other feet, and find a rock in the right front. OK, maybe I was
confused. Lead him on over to the vet who is doing "out checks" as we leave.
I trot him out, and they tell me he is lame. I told them of the rock, trot
again, still lame, and they say "sorry, we can't let you go, he is lame on
the left front". (well, the rock was in right front, so much for that
theory) They take my vet card, and we head towards where my crew was, to try
to catch them before they leave. Oh well, I miss them, and have to bum a
ride for us back to the fairgrounds. I am not disappointed, as this horse
really gave me his all during the day, but his way of going was darn
frightening at times. I am relieved to not have to deal with him in the
dark, and am glad that metabolically, he did SO well. He let me know that
as far as condition, I seemed to do it right, and did not over work him
conditioning before the ride. His lameness is something that maybe has been
working on showing up, by the way he prefers me to be on the left diagonal.
The following day, he was already less sore on the leg.( it seemed to maybe
be in the tendon sheath) And I plan to have it looked at this week, and
maybe an ultrasound done on it. (although he is sound trotting around in the
pasture..happy to be home again!) I also found that I was in better shape
than I thought I was going to be. I was not sore, over-tired, or feeling bad
at all when we stopped at 70 miles. I am already thinking about next years
Tevis, but probably not on this horse. One really needs a horse they can
trust their life to in the trail situations that are out there. Everyone
says what a tough trail this is, but until you see it, you really have no
idea how it will challenge YOU during the ride. You must be a brave rider,
on a brave, bold horse. And you and the horse must trust each other during
the ride, to deal with the situations that arise. And you can not doddle.
You must push, push, push, to make sure you make it to the check points in
time. I personally feel that being over time is not an option for me. If my
horse can not keep the pace required to finish in time (and make the cut off
's.allowing extra from problems that might arise), then maybe we are not
ready. I would hate to be chasing cut off times all day. You can rarely
catch those up if you get behind. Over all, for the full 100 miles, you must
keep a minimum 5+ MPH average pace to finish in 24 hours. This pace INCLUDES
the non hold pulse checks, water stops, delays from large groups, up hills,
bogs, pee breaks, hazards etc. etc. So when the going is good you MUST move
out. I found out that I was physically and mentally ready to push myself as
much as this ride requires.( which I had doubts before the ride) I could
not remember any of the first 40 miles of trail from riding it so many years
ago. Some had changed, some was the same. We were lucky, to not get stuck in
any large groups, as having 250 horses sharing the already very difficult
trail just adds to the challenge of getting through it in one piece. You
will have riders out there with ALL levels of experience. I saw a few who
were definitely over challenged and had bit off more than they could chew.
Some are accidents waiting to happen, and others are over working their
guardian angels that day. But then you see faces of riders you recognize
from magazines and such, that have been in this sport for years, and seem
to make it look so easy on their well seasoned horse. You meet riders
briefly, and maybe ride a short section of trail with them, and then might
not see them the rest of the day. You hear their stories of their horse, or
what it took to get to the ride, and you wonder the next day if they made it
or not. You root for everyone to meet the goal they set out to accomplish
that morning. Some might not have even had the goal to finish. Sitting in
the dark, along a gravel / dirt road in the middle of the Sierras, waiting
to hear "the trail is open", you make short term friends with voices and
silhouettes of horses and riders you can not make out the details of, even
with the full moon shining bright as the dawn approaches. Exchanging names,
or "where are you from", connects you briefly with someone you may have
e-mailed, or read about on line, as they told of their preparations to get
to the ride. Then as the signal is given, you are brought into the reality
and dust of the trail ahead, and you don't have much time to think of the
others sharing the trail with you for the next 24 hours. Those silhouettes
and voices are no longer on your mind as all the work and preparation you
have done is now being put to the test. For some, the test is short, and
they end their day early. Others are tested well into the night, but still
might not accomplish their goal. While others get to see the pay off of all
the hard work, and get to take that lap around the stadium in Auburn. For
many who don't, we look forward to trying again "next year". Some realize
this is NOT something they want to try again. But it seems for most, it is a
ride that gets into your system that you just can not get out. It calls you
back, to try again. It has been calling me back for 16 years. I've waited
this long for that darn buckle..what's another year......I'll be back.....

Jonni

P.S. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and good wishes as we shared our
adventures this summer. I hope that everyone gets to try what ever goal they
might have with their horse. These adventures make lasting memories. I was
blessed to be able to do both the XP, and attempt Tevis in the same year. I
hope y'all did not get to bored with my "reports from the road".