My dad, Bob Walz, passed away May 17th, 2008 at the age of 86. He had a stroke about 6 weeks previous & just didn’t recover.
Donations made on this site will go toward buying a mile of Tevis Trail as a memorial for my dad. The Bob Walz Easy Ride Mile!
Here are some stories that have been shared on Ridecamp about him!

I am going to deeply miss my dad. He was an amazing man. My Tevis crew chief every year I rode it. My adviser & ultimate authority on horses & endurance. He started the NJ 100 in ‘62 when I was just 7 yrs old. He took my brother & I to many east coast endurance rides when we were young. He was the first to adapt Polar Heart Monitors for horse use. He designed & made the Easy Ride stirrups for years before he sold the rights to Garrett Ford & EasyCare. He was AERC member #1520 with 8690 lifetime miles… lots of pre-AERC miles, too! He was 86 & continued to ride up to 2 years ago. He had just bought a new horse with hopes of riding again.
Several times Steve Elliott & I tried nominating him to the AERC Hall of Fame. I guess we didn’t politic enough. He did contribute much to the sport of endurance. He loved it & instilled that love of the sport in me!

~Sue Walz

Is this Sue’s Dad. I am so very sorry.

Nancy

Bob Walz died yesterday about the same time that Big
Brown won the Preakness. He is at peace with all of
the past greats telling Ride Camp stories in heaven. I
think he was 85, strong and healthy until the stroke.
When you ride your Easy Ride stirrups always think of him.

We first met Bob while pre riding the Tevis in 74. He was riding this Appy who
was probably 16.2 or more and would go up the canyon into Michigan Bluff at
about
12 miles an hour. Man that was a strong horse. Don’t think he made the ride
until he rented a little Rush Creek gelding from Cliff Lewis in 1976. Saw him
at Michigan Bluff and the horse was fine. Bob said that he was really tired.
But after some rest was able to finish the ride. How tall was Bob? Looked to
be 6Ft. 5 or so. The horse was about 14 hands. Bob didn’t have any problem
mounting or dismounting.. In 1984 he was riding a 16 hand Arab and did very
well…

HE WAS GREAT…AND REALLY ENJOYED ENDURANCE..

[RC] Bob Walz - Ranelle Rubin
Ridecampers,

Bob was a great guy..here is my “Bob” story:

About 20 years ago I was riding in the Cool area in an English Jumping saddle-Stueben Siegfried (now, come on folks, some of you did this too!)…with English irons. I met him on the trail, and we rode together awhile. I said something about his stirrups and that they looked so comfortable. He told me about them, and said I could get them from him. Now, as a single mom, riding was a luxury I felt guilty enough about..and spending $50.00 or so for a pair of stirrups sounded outrageous. He told me to come over and he would fix me up. So, of course, I did. He gave me a pair of stirrups that had been returned and re-welded. I rode in those for over 10 years. The weld came undone once up on the Pacific Crest Trail, making an interesting ride back! I took them to a shop in Tahoe where I lived at the time, and had them re-welded…and rode another 5 yrs or so in them..replacing them finally about a year or so ago for some lighter weight ones. (The early ones were pretty heavy)

My favorite memory of him is seeing him hauling butt on a horse named Sombro he got from a friend of mine…boy that horse could fly! Last year at the Georgetown fun ride, he watched all of us go out from a lawn chair..and just smiled…just about every rider said hi to him as they went by..

Sue, may you keep remembering the great times and the great man he was….all of us who ride without burning toes can be thankful he was so forward thinking.

Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway. ~ John Wayne

Ranelle Rubin, Business Consultant
http://www.rrubinconsulting.com

[RC] Bob Walz - Barbara McCrary
I first met Bob at a BBQ at Roger Ford’s home in Tucson. It was the year Roger first put on the Old Pueblo ride, probably 1982 or 1983, as I remember. Roger had invited me to come there and ride it on one of their horses. He said he wanted input from other ride managers, but he did a fine job without any help from me.
I bought an early design of Bob’s stirrup, which is still serving our family…one of our daughters is using it on her saddle. We have nothing but EZ Ride stirrups on all our saddles. This stirrup saved my feet, as I began to have foot trouble after riding Tevis on a Stubben Siegfried with English irons (yes, Ranelle, there are others of us who did that before the advent of the wonderful special products designed for endurance riding.) :-))

I never became well acquainted with Bob, but I certainly remember him from such a long time ago and will always be grateful to him for designing the stirrup that so many of us rely upon.

Barbara

[RC] Bob Walz - Garrett . Ford

I’m very sorry to hear the news about Bob Walz. Bob was a great horseman and invented several items that are still being used in the sport of endurance today. I’ll remember Bob for many reasons.

Bob was a Tucson resident back in the early eighties when my family started riding endurance. We traveled to many rides together and often conditioned horses together. At over 6’ 5’’ Bob had some big feet and needed a stirrup to support his clod hoppers. Being a great metal fabricator Bob came up with the first E-Z Ride Stirrup designs in the early eighties. The stirrup worked for Bob and he ended up selling them to all his endurance friends.

Bob was also an incredible diesel mechanic. In the mid eighties, Bob removed the diesel engine from a large dump truck and retrofitted the engine for his ¾ ton Chevy. He then fabricated several diesel tanks that carried over 150 gallons of diesel. His truck and fuel tanks were the envy of every endurance rider. The truck could not only pull any trailer but it had an incredible range. Most production diesel trucks are now similar to what Bob put together in his garage.

Bob got in a bit of trouble with his truck in the late eighties. Bob would drive the truck across the US border to Nogales Mexico in order to fill the 150+ gallon tanks with cheap diesel fuel. Diesel in Mexico was $.40- $.60 a gallon back then and Bob was always looking to save money. After many successful trips to Mexico, Bob was put in a Mexican jail and the truck was impounded. Bob spent several weeks in the Mexican jail as many local Tucson friends and endurance riders rushed to get him out. With a bunch of effort from my family and many others Bob was released. Bob had some wild stories after the release. Every Tuesday night at the jail was “gringo night” and all the gringos were beat up. After a couple beatings Bob made the appropriate friends. Although Bob was released they didn’t release his truck. Bob went back to Mexico, cut open the impound gates and drove the truck back to the USA without stopping at the border. Several years later my dad purchased the truck from Bob, we still have it.

Bob was my sponsor twice at the Tevis Cup. When you ride 100 miles with someone you really get to know them. Bob helped get me and my horse through the Tevis twice. Bob was scared of riding in the dark and my horse loved ripping down the California Loop below Foresthill. I can remember Bob yelling “Whoa Bruce, Whoa Bruce”. It went on for hours.

In the mid nineties I approached Bob and offered to purchase his E-Z Ride Stirrup and Equine Heart Rate Monitor business. Bob transported all the equipment down to Tucson from the Auburn area and trained our staff to manufacture his stirrups. The stirrups have been a great success and are used by endurance riders around the globe.

Thanks for the memories and contributions!

Garrett Ford

EasyCare Inc.

2300 E. Vistoso Commerce Loop

Tucson, AZ 85755

520-297-1900 x 2222

[RC] Bob Walz - Marinera

Bob Walz was one of a kind and once you met him, you did not forget him.

He had a wonderful handsome horse by the name of Brusally Skoraik. He entered and completed 76 rides with him for at total of nearly 7,000 miles without a pull. He won the overall Best Condition Award at the 250 mile High Rock Canyon/Soldiers Meadow Ride in 1989…no mean feat for someone 6′5.” I was there and I remember seeing this frequently grumpy towering figure come close to tears. Ride on, Bob. Julie Suhr

Bob Walz, my Tevis Mentor by Krista Snyder

Bob Walz was an amazing man, as many endurance riders already know. He invited me to stay with him at his home the week before Tevis last year so I could get on the trail a bit and learn the area. At first, I was quite intimidated by him. He towered over me and spoke so loudly and blunt. But that was only because he was hard of hearing, I learned later. . .

A few days into my visit, I asked him for advice on the Tevis trail. Four hours later and we were only to the Robinson Flat vet check. He dissected that trail foot by foot, stride by stride, for me. Anything and everything there is to know about that trail, he knew. I was amazed at the detail and incredibly grateful for the insight.

This instruction lasted for days. He told me where to have my crew set up at the VC, where I needed to make up time, where the shade was on the trail, the rockiest spots, where the best water was at, etc.

When it came time to saddle up that morning, I felt like I had ridden that trail ten times already. What a great feeling to have before a ride like Tevis. Even though he wasn’t riding with me physically, I knew he was there with me. And coming into the two vet checks where crew is allowed, it was a lot of fun to tell him about my ride so far and hear from him what was coming up around the next corner.

Bob Walz is a Tevis legend and will be greatly missed.

And Sue, just to let you know, I wear his old endurance shirts that he gave me all the time. He heard that the Land of the Sun ride in Wickenburg, AZ, was one of my all-time favorites. Since I’d completed it, he gave me all of his completion shirts from those rides. It’s a great way to still feel connected to him.

Happy Trails Bob–I know you’re riding up in Heaven. I’m one of many who will always be grateful for your hospitality and generous help on the trail.

Krista

Krista, what a wonderful tribute! Thank you for sharing that, it was incredibly touching. I wish I’d gotten to know Bob more while I was there, but quite grateful I got to meet such a legend. Also for the huge role he played helping you help me with all that great preparation done for your crew! I know we owe all that went right with your crew that day to Bob!

Sue, my thoughts and prayers are continuing to center around you often. I hope you and family are doing okay, and mostly spending time rejoicing in all of your dad’s accomplishments and what an awesome influence he was. What an amazing man, whom so many are going to miss! So wonderful that his legacy lives on. He will be riding with you every step of the way when you and Raven top 10 at Tevis just like your dad knows you can do!

Kara Henry

Enjoy this slideshow of shots that my friend, Cash, took at Tevis ‘07 & a few from the start of Oregon 100 at the end. The Tevis shots are of Robie Park & Foresthill. There are some of Krista Snyder, too, on her paint, Corky!

Tevis

Tevis has become my yearly adventure. 2007 was an eventful one. I caravaned down with Krista Snyder & her Tevis bound paint, Corky. It made the drive more interesting, though I scared her with my freeway speeds!
We started the week before Tevis with the Gold Country Ride & Tie. My friend, Cash, teamed with veteran Ride & Tier, George Hall. They took my mare, Ruby, on her first Ride & Tie! They did great with her, although tail ending the 25 mile distance. It was a fun experience!
The next day we all pre rode the Foresthill to across the river section of the Western States trail. I saw some signs that looked like a shortcut home to my dad’s house off Sliger Mine Rd. We tried that & got lost! Krista tied up Corky & hiked in to a house that we passed. She found out where we were approximately & we rode out on some very steep trails. We made it home safe!
The prep for going to Robie Park is a routine for Raven & I. When I went out to halter him & bathe him he didn’t do his usual keep away game. He walked up to me & put his head into the halter. He then took me over to the bathing stall & walked in! Can you tell he is anxious to get to the Tevis ride? He loves it!
On Thursday we drove up to Robie Equestrian Park near Truckee. A beautiful camp to start this incredible ride on. Cash & Jeff crewed for me there. Kara found her way up there to crew for Krista. We intermingled our crews throughout the ride in a cooperative effort. My dad, Steve Elliott & Kara were at Robinson Flat hour hold. Everyone was at Foresthill!
I got to start in the first pen this year! Halfway up the controlled start one of the lead horses flipped out & backed into Raven. He bulldozed his way into the lead after that. So I kept him in a walk & kept circling back to stay near the first group. We had a 5 minute wait at the starting line & were off!!
Raven stretched out & was on a loose rein quickly. Flying down the trail with the other front runners! We were fourth crossing hwy 89. His usual explosion of speed at Squaw Valley didn’t happen because I didn’t have to hold him back this year. At Granite Chief Wilderness they had changed the trail to be safer, less rock. Raven kept trying to go on the old trail! Amazing memories horses have. He picked his way through quickly & deftly. We continued on towards Cougar Rock enjoying the incredible High Sierra vistas. I decided to approach Cougar on a loose rein & see if Raven would choose to climb it like last year. He sped up to the right & went around! No awesome picture this year!
Heading to Red Star Ridge I noticed Raven was already missing his left front shoe. I wasn’t worried, he’s a 100 mile barefooter on other rides. He vetted through well & we continued the six miles to Robinson Flat. I vetted him through again before we had the shoe replaced. I always have extra plastic shoes in my vet bag now. The farriers were great! They made sure all the shoes were on well.
On to the canyons. The first one Raven went down fast. He has an awesome downhill gait. A mile or so before swinging bridge he slipped & fell, though. He fell on his right side, the mountain side, luckily. I got quite bruised & scraped up. I kept ahold of the reins & was dragged a few feet before Raven stopped. I stood up & ran with him a ways until I found a safe place to mount. On the other side of swinging bridge the ascent was slower. I was assessing my injuries & sponging the blood away after sponging Raven. He had no abrasions, luckily. I felt like I had abdominal injuries. At Last Chance I let them know about the fall. At Deadwood vet check the volunteers were great. They knew I had fallen & I was given Advil & three Platinum bars with an anti inflamitory in them. I ate all three that she gave me & they really helped! I got through the next canyon slower. My dad & Steve were at Michigan Bluff & helped cool Raven down & gave him a bit of hay. I got going quickly.
I got through the new Chicken Hawk vet check. I let Raven eat a smorgasbord of soaked feeds. Then I left for the four miles through the lovely small canyon that brings you to Foresthill.
The volunteer from Platinum came running up to me at Foresthill to see how I was doing. She had been so worried about me! At that point I could honestly say I was in no pain. She gave me more bars for me & for Raven! So nice & caring!
As I was coming into Foresthill I saw my friend Judy Houle. She’s a wonderful equine massage practitioner. I asked her if she had time to work on Raven. So he had a great 40 minute massage as he rested & recovered at the hour hold! My crew was great & got me out on time.
Raven gets excited when he hits the California Street trail! He knows it’s the last leg & knows the trail well. I can pretty much drop the reins & let him go. Getting down towards the river, before Francisco’s vet check, I was joined be a couple more riders. We came upon Roger Yohe running with his horse. We passed him & continued down the trail. We were four riders when night fell. Behind us a ways we heard cries for help! Roger & his horse had fallen! Two wanted to turn back but we were close to Francisco’s & agreed that it would be the best help to get there as soon as possible & tell them what we heard. They ended up having to air lift Roger out. The horse scrambled back up the hill & I believe ran into Francisco’s & was treated for abrasions.
It’s always difficult for Raven to get his night vision back after leaving the well lit Francisco’s. We may have briefly gone off trail. I couldn’t see either! When he got his vision back we were flying down the trail again. Quickly, we were at the river crossing. It was pretty deep, I had to hold my feet up or they would’ve been soaked. we climbed out & up the hill & quickly the other riders caught up with me again. That inspires Raven to speed up & soon we were approaching the Lower Quarry vet check. Raven saw the lights of the vet check & flew down the trail to get there! A volunteer took him from me & got him eating mash & hay. I perused their selection of snacks & chose a nut bar for myself. Raven quickly pulsed down. After we had eaten & rested I walked him to the vetting area. As soon as he took the first few steps I saw something was very wrong! He was very off at a walk! I told the vets we were out. They saw the lameness & arranged transport. Tevis was over for us with six miles to go. One of the volunteers was running her hands up & down his legs & noticed a thorn in his knee! She pulled it out & it was a big one! Enough to put us out. He steadily improved as soon as it was removed. The next day he was barely off & by Monday he was fine. I’m so thankful it wasn’t anything worse!
Raven showed me that he’s got what it takes to be a contender for top ten on Tevis! We were running up with the top ten & never out of top 20 all day! He is an amazing guy!
We will be back in ‘08!

We had a top ten success at Klickatat 2 day 100! I love 2 day 100’s, gives the horse a taste of what a multi day ride is. The trails up there are beautiful with great footing. Raven completed barefoot, two weeks after almost winning Mt Adams 100. I still had hoof to trim. Supply & demand. The hoof won’t over wear if conditioned correctly. We weren’t allowed to ride the Sunriver 100 bare so we didn’t ride it. I was willing to carry boots & had painted his hoofs with hoof armor. Not good enough for the ride management. They believe that riding bare is wrong. Raven’s record counts for nothing? They think I’m abusing him? You just cannot reason with some people. So the following weekend I met friends at the coast & rode Cape Mountain for two days. Light riding now until Tevis, July 28th. You’ll be able to follow my ride that day on http://www.foothill.net/tevis I have high hopes for Tevis this year! I get to start in the first pen. More on that later!

We had a great weekend at the Mt Adams endurance ride!
Raven led the 100 all day, without me… he had his kid back & he was obviously celebrating that! My 17 yr old, Sarah, who rode him in 2000, was in the saddle again. It was good to see them working as the incredible team they were then! They ultimately came in a close second. A great finish for a kid that hadn’t ridden an endurance ride in over 5 yrs!
I rode my Ruby in the 50. First time I’ve ever ridden her in competition! She’s a blast to ride! Great attitude, a real smooth mover! We had a successful 50 in about 10 hours.
After we got back, I moved my horses to Horse Heaven!! 5 minutes from my house is the old Aster estate. They divided it up when they moved to New Zealand. So my horses are on nearly 40 acres of lush pasture with a safe paddock so we can ease them onto it. I can’t afford grass founder! A beautiful barn, too!
So all is good! Klickatat 2 day 100 is the next! Then on to Tevis……

Endurance riding is a very challenging sport. The rides range from 50 miles to 100 miles in a day. Limited distance rides are 25 to 30 miles. Veterinary checkpoints are frequent, generally every 6 to 12 miles. Terrains vary from flat & easy to mountainous & technical. Arabian horses dominate the sport. Their hardy desert roots make them a near perfect endurance horse. Fast, surefooted, able to pulse down quickly.
In recent years there has been a trend to go gaited! As endurance riders got older a smoother ride is often sought. Now all ages are enjoyed the smooth ride! Many gaited breeds have gained popularity in the sport of endurance. Tennessee Walkers, Missouri Foxtrotters, Peruvian Pasos, Rocky Mountain Horses & Kentucky Mountain Horses & more. On the national Gaited Endurance Riders Yahoo list there are 243 members now. In the regional PNER Gaited list we have 39 members. Five Kentucky Mountain Horses are listed in AERC competition but I suspect there are more that didn’t think to list the breed when they registered their horses with AERC.
My father, Bob Walz, was the first to see the Kentucky Mountain Horse as a breed that could be a contender in his sport. He is a pioneer of the sport having started the New Jersey 100 Mile Ride in the early 60’s. He went on to get Polar to allow him to alter their heart monitors for horses. He also developed the Easy Ride Stirrups, the largest selling trail stirrup in the world.
In the mid nineties my dad was searching for a smooth, safe breed to continue endurance riding with. His arabian was too hard on his 74 year old body. He saw an ad for Mountain Horses and went down to see what they were all about at Fran & Bill Odom’s ranch. He liked what he saw in the Kentucky Mountain Horses. Being nearly 6′6″ tall he asked them to find him a couple of 16 hand KMSH’s. They found two & my dad quickly bought Almost Chocolate, the older one. The 3 year old named Raven did not pass the vet check. The vet told my dad that the horse would never be sound! The price was dropped $2000 & my dad bought him anyway. Shortly after he bought young Raven, he put his leg through the windshield of one of my dad’s cars, tearing open his right knee. It healed large & lumpy & added to a doubtful endurance future for the big black horse.
In ‘98 Bob was downsizing his property & had to downsize his herd. I drove down there to pick up his arab, Sombro for my older daughter & Raven for my 9 year old daughter. Raven was five & had only done half an endurance ride. I asked my dad if he would really trust the 5 year old horse with his 9 year old granddaughter. He answered that Raven was the most bomb proof horse he’d ever owned, of course he trusted him!
The relationship with Raven & young Sarah started rocky. He was young & fast & Sarah was a good rider but unsure of the 16 hand speed horse. She would bail off of him at a gallop! She kept getting back on & they worked out an agreement on their first beach ride. Sarah finally felt confident to let him run full out! She got a huge grin on her face & yelled to me “I’m fine now! I can do anything with him!” They were a great team after that!
In 2000 they had a great endurance season. They started with the Prineville 50 mile ride. Raven was 6 years old & Sarah was 10. She wanted more so next we did the 75 mile distance at the Grizzly Mountain Ride. We continued with one to two rides a month that season. Sarah’s ambition prompted me to enter us in the Oregon 100 mile ride that September. We ran into some blatant gaited prejudice. The head vet told me at the 50 mile check that he felt gaited horses were not bred for distance & what did we think entering one in a 100 mile ride. At 75 miles he was pulled with no exam. I rider option pulled my arab so Sarah wouldn’t have to care for her horse alone. He wasn’t allowed to finish another ride that season. We call them our political pulls. Those were the dark days of gaited endurance. We’ve come a long way!
The next year I brought Raven back down to my father. He was having balance problems & his KMSH, Almost Chocolate, was being stubborn & giving him problems. So I let him ride the kid conditioned Raven that stood when being mounted & went cheerfully forward on any trail. I brought Chocolate back to Oregon to train him & do a few endurance rides on him. He had a stubborn streak, alright!
In the meantime, my dad’s friend Steve Elliott had been given a free entry to Tevis & the honorary #1 for having rescued a horse the previous year that had fallen into a canyon. Steve didn’t want to ride his high strung arab on another Tevis so he was without a mount for that momentous ride. My dad offered him 7 year old Raven knowing that he had a great base conditioning on him from the previous endurance season with Sarah. Steve talked to me & e-mailed me often asking if I really felt the young Raven was ready to tackle the toughest 100 mile ride in the world. Unhesitatingly I said yes! Steve conditioned him well & on the 47th running of the Tevis, 47 year old Steve Elliott on 7 year old Raven finished Tevis in 47th place!
My dad had me send Sarah down to California six weeks later & Steve borrowed a horse & sponsored 11 year old Sarah on the Virginia City 100 on Raven. So Raven did two of the toughest 100 mile endurance rides in the country six weeks apart!
When I got Raven back at the end of the season, his shoes were pulled & we did the Pacific Crest 50 miler with Easy Boots. I got his hoofs Strasser trimmed & started conditioning him barefoot. He had always had a hard time keeping shoes or boots on. He developed hoofs of iron! We had a few rough seasons getting used to barefoot endurance. I’m just a rebel, I guess! Gaited AND barefoot!
In 2004 at the 50th Tevis I did my first on Raven. Raven was inspired being on the trail he loves so much! He remembered it well from 2001 & took me for the ride of my life! He fell badly in the Granite Chief Wilderness & I ran him through the rest of it when he finally regained his footing. When I finally was able to remount, Raven was in a frenzy! He took off & passed so many riders I lost count! It was an adrenelin rush from beginning to end. And WE DID IT!!! 22nd place on the 50th Tevis! Raven rocked! 245 starters, 129 finishers.
This past season was Raven’s best! The vet’s were so supportive! I started all the northwest rides barefoot. I carried boots in case he needed them & he didn’t! We did six 50 milers & the Oregon 100 barefoot, no boots! He top tenned four of the 50’s. Raven won the Pacific Crest 50! Winning a northwest 50 over arabs is an amazing accomplishment!
In 2006 we also did Tevis again. Here’s that story. It could’ve started better, but we made up time at Squaw Valley. The new start puts the riders in 3 pens, this year by their previous ride record. My last season was dismal so I was seeded in the #2 pen. Not what I’d planned. Raven has had a stellar season this year! I wanted to get to the front & let him stretch out & do his best! Instead I had to hang too much on the bit & pass people as I could. We lost over an hour with the controlled start & aftermath of it.
When we got to Squaw & Raven could move out he about exploded! Galloping up the road to High Camp & Watson’s Monument. We ended up in the front pack of faster movers. More his speed!
He made his way safely through Granite Chief Wilderness. That always makes me nervous, we had a bad fall there in ‘04. He was able to relax on a loose rein after that heading for Cougar Rock. I had decided that if we got to Cougar in a relaxed state that we’d go for it this year! He was & we did! He is a total point & shoot horse. He trusts that if I ask him to do something that it is doable. He didn’t hesitate & followed the arrows up that landmark rock! He did stop momentarily before the big jump, I dropped back into the saddle & was pulling myself back up over his shoulders when the picture was shot.
We did it!!!!! On the other side on the rock I was in a state of shock that we actually accomplished it without a problem! My feet were shaking in my stirrups!!! Adrenelin rush like nothing else!!
We relaxed & took in the incredible scenery as we continued down the trail. The first third of this ride has the most incredible vistas to enjoy! You can see what I mean in the ride pictures for that high Sierra section of the Tevis.
We had a good rest at Robinson Flat. I changed him to his bitless bridle. We got out in good time & onto the new section of trail. More interesting than the road we rode in the previous years. I’m sure it did add some more time but I’m glad they put it back in.
We had a good ride through the big canyons. Raven got to do his downhill thing! He can really make good time on the downhills with his 4 beat Kentucky Mountain gait! I let him take his time going up the canyons. He pulsed down well on all the checks, often below criteria! My crew was great! They made the stops such a pleasure & let me relax as much as I could! After Foresthill we had a couple of hours of daylight to get much of the California Loop done in. It was dark by the time we hit Francisco’s vet check. I pre-rode the California Loop more for me that for Raven. He knows it so well from year to year! I don’t use light sticks. It interferes with the horse’s vision. I think even the bright moon made it more difficult for him. In the dark I try to keep his reins dropped or loose & let him navigate the trail. I swear, the darker it is, the better he seems to see. I get nervous, but he just flys through the night! He wants to get to the fairgounds! He knows it’s not over until we’re there!
We crossed the river & went the wrong way on the trail briefly! We had to turn around in the dark & get on the right trail! The two women I was riding with trotted on ahead after awhile. I thought Raven would pick up & follow, but no, he wanted to walk awhile. I let him & he kept in his long strided flat walk. I started dosing off on his back! He took care of me & kept on the trail while I went in & out of conciousness. When I was awake I found myself hallucinating ocassionally! Red glows around Raven, imaginary rocks… wierd!
We finally got to Lower Quarry. Thank goodness! I ate brownies & put some Emergen-C into my water bottle. Raven scarfed down some mash & some hay. The volunteers were fantastic! At all the non- crewed checks they were invaluable!
Now it was to home stretch! The last 6 miles to the finish! We were revived & made a quick trip of it! We were joined by 3 other riders which helps keep the momentum going. We rode an amazing amount of trail this year alone. Raven takes it less seriously then. He was on a mission to get home now! He navigated the dark trails easily & soon we were galloping up the hill & over the finish line! What a ride!!!
We again came in 22nd out of 87 finishers out of 193 starters. The first non arab to finish & the only gaited horse to finish this year!
Raven has proven that gaited horses have what it takes for the sport of endurance. And Kentucky Mountain Horses in particular! They have a sensible, bomb proof attitude that gets you safely down the most precarious trail! When people comment on Raven’s incredible down hill gait, I say, “They don’t call’em Mountain Horses for nothin’!”

Endurance Links:
http://aerc.org
http://endurance.net
http://www.foothill.net/tevis