What if you were the weird gay kid who only felt safe at their family’s ranch home in the town of Auburn California, where the world’s toughest 100 mile one day endurance ride takes place. What if you spent your life not hiding yourself and allowing others around you to feel safe so when you attempt the Tevis in your 30s you got to bring everyone back home with you too. (in 2 weeks btw) #hopecore
Endurance racing is not for the faint of heart, or mind or body. If you compound that with an animal who cannot talk to you, it adds to the challenge. But challenge is what drives endurance racers and riders. Endurance riding is a popular sport in the horse world that is dominated by Arabian horses. Some riders, however, prefer wild horses because the horses are natural trail horses who possess the stamina, intelligence and toughness to do these races. Do not worry, unlike other types of horse racing, endurance horses must pass several veterinary examinations and get several rest stops during the races, which can last as long as 24 hours.
The Tevis Cup 100 Mile One Day Western States Trail Ride is an internationally known race that takes place annually in Auburn, California. The town of Auburn dubs itself "the Endurance Capital of the World," as it holds at least two endurance races with long histories, the Tevis Cup 100-Mile Endurance Equestrian Ride, established in 1955, and the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, started around 1977. This year, six mustangs started the Tevis Cup on August 7, 2017. Five mustangs finished, and four mustangs completed the grueling race.
Dr. Jennifer Mather, an equine veterinarian, horse trainer and endurance rider from Grass Valley, California, rode the Tevis on her mustang, Ivan, a seven-year-old gelding from the Eagle Herd Management Area. Dr. Jennifer and her friend and client, Danielle Alfaro, both participated in the 2016 Reno Extreme Mustang Makeover. Dr. Jennifer was paired with a horse she named Buster, and Danielle with Ivan. After the Makeover, Buster found a home with a new adopter. One of Dr. Jennifer's friends asked her if she could haul a horse home from the adoption should she win the bid. It turns out the friend won Ivan! Dr. Jennifer knew that Ivan was a quirky, high-strung horse, and offered to help her friend continue his training. Dr. Jennifer trained him for two months and ended up keeping the horse.
In the spring, Dr. Jennifer started working with Ivan and conditioning her Arabian mare for the Tevis Cup. Ivan needed remedial work after the long winter; he was reactive, energetic and bucked when she rode him. She started to look for another home for him. Just ten weeks prior to the Tevis, her mare pulled up lame. Without another horse to ride, she thought, why not try Ivan instead? Ivan had plenty of energy and stamina. Dr. Jennifer entered Ivan in the Wild West Ride, a weekend-long event in June with several races on U.S. Forest Service-managed lands, near Grass Valley. On Friday, Dr. Jennifer entered the 30-mile ride. Even though Ivan was out of control and running into the bushes at the start, the duo finished in seventh place. On Sunday, Dr. Jennifer rode Ivan in a 25-mile event, where they placed third. Two weeks later, Dr. Jennifer took Ivan to race in the Gold Country 50 and Ivan finished, despite very high temperatures. Ivan clearly had potential as an endurance horse. When Dr. Jennifer asked an experienced Tevis racer and friend if she thought Ivan could do Tevis, the answer was, "Yes, if you ride him properly." Dr. Jennifer entered Ivan in the Tevis.
At Tevis, Dr. Jennifer and a friend started last because both had misbehaving horses. They rode their unruly horses together. The horses started overtaking those in front of them. By the stop in Forest Hill, Ivan was tired. However, he got a second wind at Francisco, because Dr. Jennifer thought Ivan may have recognized the trail. He even tried to take a shortcut across the river about 10 miles from the finish. The team finished with 25 minutes to spare! Needless to say, Dr. Jennifer is no longer looking to rehome Ivan. She plans to keep doing endurance rides with him. Their next ride is the Virginia City 100 on September 16. Good luck Ivan and Dr. Jennifer!
Mark Montgomery has adopted several mustangs and rides endurance races on them. Mark has ridden the Tevis several times and has sold several to other riders. This year, Mark rode his horse, MM Remington, to the finish but they did not complete due to Remy not passing the final vet check. Remy recovered quickly as his electrolytes were a little unbalanced. Mark's former horse, MM Chief, who he sold, raced and completed this year under the guidance of rider Juliana McElroy, who is only 15 years old.
Mark still has at least three endurance horses and only one rider! What does one do? He leases horses to other riders. The following is from Australian rider, Erin Krahnen, who with her mother, Simone, leased two of Mark's horses for Tevis. Erin said:
"My family has been involved in endurance riding in Australia for over 30 years, and having completed the Tom Quilty many times (Australia's "Tevis"). We wanted to have a go at completing the Tevis as well. Our first attempt was in 2015, when I rode Mark's horse, MM Cody. Unfortunately, I was pulled at Lower Quarry with only a few miles to go. Mum was riding another horse and was pulled earlier in the day. We kept in touch with Mark and planned to try again this year, after Mark visited Australia in 2016 and rode one of our horses in the Quilty to a successful completion."
"This year, I again rode MM Cody, and Mum (Simone) rode MM Woodrow. Mark had done a superb job conditioning them for the tough track, and both horses felt strong, fresh and happy throughout the day. I've ridden all of my life, however, almost exclusively on Arabians or Anglo-Arabians (Arabians crossed with thoroughbreds), so it certainly was exciting to ride the iconic Tevis on an American Mustang.
"I feel the best thing about Cody and Woody was their willingness to keep moving, and eat and drink anything that was offered to them. They never seem to feel tired or 'fizzy,' but instead were just really smart and focused on their job without wasting energy. Woody and Cody look after themselves incredibly well and are so easy-going and sensible. I felt really lucky to be given a horse like Cody to ride; he is the safest, most surefooted horse I've ever sat on, and never took a wrong step throughout the difficult rocky terrain. I believe both Cody and Woody are consistent performers in American Endurance Ride Conference rides, with many wins and best conditions to their records. Mark has done a great job with them, and not only are they great endurance horses, they are also well-mannered and friendly horses to handle in every aspect—unfortunately, Cody wouldn't fit in my suitcase!" Erin added.
Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer, Simone, Erin, Juliana, and Mark for their efforts to finish the Tevis Cup!
UPDATE: Mark and Woody just won the Virginia City 100. Congratulations!
