Tevis 2005 – Over half way there


Coming up into Foresthill (69 miles), on Bath Road, again the
spectators were out cheering riders on. It seems almost everyone
knows Dave, and he would get some extra cheers from the crowd. I
teased him, that it was "all about him" today. But again, the cheers
and often familiar faces are a great mental boost.. The vet was not
thrilled about his CRI, and wanted to see us before we left, just to
make sure it was not a sign of the horse being overly stressed.
Earlier a horse with about the same CRI started to colic. They were
just being cautious, which I appreciated. Again, I knew he was going
to hang a tad high on his pulse, so I was not concerned. Had I been
on a horse with really fast and low normal recoveries, I would have
been more concerned. But, I knew from previous rides, this was fairly
normal. Hank again ate his big mash, was cheerful, and looking good.
When we went for the recheck, the vet who wanted to see us was not
there. That was not a problem, except he had our rider card, and I
could not continue without it! About a 10 min. delay, we found the
vet, and were given an OK to go. CRI still a little high, but all
other vital signs were great. So, off into the darkness. I was
feeling refreshed from a shower and change of clothes, after eating
more than my share of trail dust during the day.
As we went through downtown Foresthill, the locals clapped and
cheered, and we waved to the on-lookers. I told Dave after about a
mile that this was officially now the longest I had ever ridden a
horse in one day. Last year had the previous record, when we got
pulled at Foresthill. Hank had been so good on his feet all day, I
had no fears of the CA loop like I had last year. Dave and I rode
alone for 99% of the trail into Franciscos ( 86 miles) . We trotted a
nice easy trot most of the way. The California loop is a single
track trail, that is often along the edge of the mountain, with BIG
drop offs to the river or canyon below. The footing for the most part
is good, but once and awhile you will have some rocks. Well, we are
about 3 miles on to the CA loop, and Hank trips over one of these
rocks,and starts to fall down, and goes off the trail to our left.
This is a very steep drop off, with some grass, small bushes, and
trees scattered on it. As he is going over the edge, my mind
says "get off this horse". I bail right, towards the trail. Not much
of a bail, as I swung my leg over, Hank was already off the edge, and
my feet land on the ground / side of the hill right away. I take a
hold of his right rein, and yank on it as hard as I could, and I am
guessing yelled at Hank to "get back up here". I am still not sure
how he managed, but he gave a leap and jumped back on the trail. I
think it was the momentum of him in a forward motion, and that he
never was pointed completly downhill, rather traversing along the
side of the hill that gave him the ability to jump back up before the
side of the hill, and it's fairly soft footing gave way, sending him
further down the mountain. I was standing down over the edge, and the
trail was about chest level with me, and Hank had been below ME. It
was almost straight up and down, and I had a heck of a time climbing
back up on to the trail. I checked Hank, he looked good, I climbed
back on, and told Dave that I was ready. We picked up the trot, and
he never took a lame step. Weird thing is, I was never frightened at
all during this little experience. I had SO much confidence in Hank,
and his trail ability. Dave said he looked back, and our glow stick
attached to the breast collar had disappeared, then reappeared on
the trail. I have along in my saddle bag, a very special pin, that
was given to my by a friend. Attached to that pin are a few tail
hairs from her horse who finished Tevis 7 times. This horse has gone
on to horse heaven, but he was definitely Hanks guardian angel during
the ride. I still believe that it was a miracle that Hank recovered
from his trip over the edge of the hill. Roxanne says that it is
because my mind was clear enough to do the right things, by bailing,
and then tugging the rein to get him to head back on the trail.
The moon was no on the rise over the mountains, and starting to
shine on the trail. Shadows of Hank and I were cast sharply on the
edge of the mountain beside us. Looking down at the river below, the
moons reflection shone like a bright light back up at us. The quiet
of the mountains only broken by the rhythmic sound of hoof beats on
the earth, and of the different bugs that were humming in the summer
night air, and an occasional breeze strong enough to make the leaves
on the trees brush against themselves. Moments like this make you
realize WHY you have picked endurance as your sport with your horses.
My horse and I could have been seriously hurt or worst just moments
before, yet that was behind us, and now it was time to appreciate
being out there with the horse who was so strong, and still so brave.
We got to Fransiscos, and found he had some hair loss and scrapes on
one hock from the fall, but was not sore. Here Hank did "hit the
wall". He was not as hungry, a little sleepy eyed, and the vet did
not like his pulse hanging high. I gave him his background from the
other vet checks, told then this was about what I expected from him,
but indeed, he was tired. They wanted him to eat and rest some, and
we had plenty of time, and spent about an hour there. On the recheck,
he was still up in pulse (but met the criteria) but they saw he had
ate some, and again, his other vitals were good. I told the vets I
could just about walk the whole way in from there. One of the vets
had seen him earlier, and knew me, and that I knew my horse, and
decided he was indeed good to go, and to take it easy. It has to be
tough on these vets who often see a horse only once, and have to make
decision based on what they see at that moment. Unfortunately, some
riders are not honest with the vets on how the horses have been
doing, and try to get a horse past the vet who should call it a day.
Also, I know many "hit the wall" at some point in the ride, and then
perk up again. We headed out, and Hank did indeed perk up . He had
been over this trail pre-riding. We walked to the river (a couple
miles) and it was what Hank needed. Ears were up, and he would then
trot with just me giving him a cluck or kiss noise, and no need to
nudge my heels into him. When we got to the river, they had a little
tent and Christmas lights set up. We were offered something to drink.
I asked how deep it was, and they told us about ankle deep on the
horses. Uh huh…more like ankle deep on ME while mounted on the horse!
Oh well, wet shoes and socks! Now, on to the last vet check.
We walked and slow trotted to Lower Quarry vet check. When we got
there, I tried something different. I took him straight to the vet,
before he drank or ate anything. I had heard some horses will have
their pulse rise after they drink, but I had never owned one who did
this myself. Well, lo and behold, his pulse was BETTER than earlier
checks. I had forgot about the rise in pulse on some horses after a
drink. Wish I had remembered earlier in the day!!! So, the vet
checked him, and said all looked great. I also remembered to hook
reins on halter to lead out at the trot. Had a bit of a refusal to
trot earlier, as I had tried to lead from his bit. Duh…. Think I was
tired? Anyway, trotted good, sound, and now he could eat and drink
some. But, still over 6 miles to go, and the final end of the ride
vet check to get through.


We again did easy trotting, and walking. After having Dave lead the
way most of the day, it was Hanks turn. He actually perked up, being
out front. Ears up, cheerful. He had seen this trail in the dark pre-
riding, and knew the way. When we got to No Hands Bridge, we picked
up the trot. The moon light shining bright on the bridge and
reflecting in the river below. I was thinking of all the great
horses and riders who had trotted across the bridge over the last 51
years, with their goal of finishing Tevis in sight. And thought about
how often I had imagined doing the same, since my first attempt at
this ride 17 years before. Again, it was just the two of us riding
towards the finish. The horses handled all the rocks and ruts that
could so easily still cause that wrong step to lame a horse. They
stopped and drank from the spring after the one creek crossing. About
a mile from the finish, we heard and saw a string of about 20 horses
rounding the trail back behind us. We picked up the slow trot, and
could see the glow of the finish line up around the corner. My
emotions were high, but until I got across that finish line, and the
final vet check gave us an "all OK", I was trying to keep them in
check. I was not nearly as tired or sore as expected. I was thinking
about the last 24 hours, and how I had pictured crossing the finish
line in my mind so many times during the day. Now it was in sight. I
called out a "whoop" from the darkness, and was answered by some
crews waiting for their riders. I had been in their shoes, waiting,
and worrying, and had congratulated riders as they crossed the line
that I did not know. Now I was the rider…..
We were met by Roxanne, and Sara, my crew. We walked down to the
fairgrounds, and did one more vet check. I had volunteers ask if I
needed them to trot my horse out for me, but I felt pretty good, and
wanted to be the one to do so. I got that nod from the vet, that we
were done, and could take our victory lap. No one was still in the
big grandstand waiting, but that was OK. Dave got Thunder trotting
and did a flying mount, as we then trotted around the stadium. Hanks
eyes were huge, as he looked at everything he could spook at. As we
crossed the white finish line, I wrapped my arms around Hanks neck
and gave him a huge hug. We came to a stop, and I hopped off and
hugged and kissed him some more. As we walked to the barn, I noticed
the sky was getting bright, and dawn was soon to be replaced by the
sunrise. I could not believe that just 24 hours before, we were
starting this marvelous journey through the Sierra Nevada mountains.
One that I would have never imagined doing on Hank when we were first
breaking and training him to ride. Roxanne was right. He was a nice
strong horse, that could do Tevis.

I took a born and bred Texas "flatlander" horse, and got him
through one of the toughest rides in the world. There are things I
could have done better, to have made it an easier day on him, and
there are things I did well in his prep for the ride, that did make
it easier on both of us. Sunday afternoon, I told friends that it
just was not as bad as I expected, and that it would be nice to have
a horse in such awesome condition to be able to ride faster. Roxanne
says I would have been a candidate for having kids (I have never had
any), as I would forget how bad childbirth was, and be ready to have
another the day after giving birth. LOL I did not have any one area
that was extra sore, and just kind of stiff all over. I had a heck of
a heat rash on both thighs, and small rubs on the inside of my knees.
Hank was bright eyed, and Both he and Thunder looked great. Roxanne
was pleased with how they both looked, and she has seen plenty of
Tevis horses over the years. The hock was swollen some from the fall,
but still never lame.

I got home to Texas from a long drive from CA, and turned Hank out
in the pasture. He would hardly stand still for me to get his halter
off. He took off at a gallop, and ran around the pasture a couple
laps, with the other 4 geldings tagging behind. He then stopped to
eat some grass, tossed his head, and took off again. Those who have
experienced a horse doing this after a ride know how good it feels to
see them have such energy to do so, and to see them move sound and
strong. I'm sure he is telling them stories, and calling
them "slackers". I think now, the reason that Gambler did not finish
last year was because Hank was the one to get me that first Tevis
buckle. Hummm, did I say "first"??? Would I do it again???? Who knows…
the ride does get into your blood………


Jonni