August 6, 1969 (12 pages)

ee ET uf 12 The Nevada County Nugget Wednesday, August 6, 1969 A GRUELING TEST of men and horses took place in the high Sierras last weekend as 115 riders took part in the rugget 100-mile Tevis Cup Ride from Tahoe City to Auburn. The photo above left shows typical hill climb country over which the horses had to traverse and the riders had to. stay in their saddles, Riders had to cover the 100 miles in 24 hours or less, and Marion Robie, did it in the best time to win the event. In the center photo, she is saving her horse for the long ride ahead by walking it up the steep grade between Last Chance and Michigan Bluff. The photo at right shows a horse getting cool as it fords a stream. Rugged trail pushes horses, riders to limit The 100-mile Tevis Cup Ride is known to most horse people as one of the roughest and ruggedest of endurance rides. _ It originated as a test of stamina to see if the modern horse could endure as much as the horses of the Pony Express days. The event is judged on the riders time and the condition of the horse at the finish. Last Friday, at Tahoe City, was just the beginning of a long awaited dream-for some people, but for others it was the end of a lot of hard work, Months of training and time had been put into preparing the horses for the ride. Tensions mounted as each horse was brought into the arena for the physical examination which. would qualify or eliminate the horse, The exam was very rigid and thorough, Dr. Jon Peek, a local veterinarian, served on one of the vet teams, Even though the horses passed the first exam, this did not assure the rider he would be allowed to finish, There were six other veterinary stations along the trail to insure safety of the horses, If the horse was checked at a later point and was found unsound, he was not allowed to go any further. After the physical, the horse and rider were given a number and the rider weighed in. The rider and all his gear had to weigh at least 150 pounds. at their stations ready to leave. In the darkness one could see sparks as the horses hooves hit. the pavement in the mad start. What a sight 115 horses in the middle of Tahoe City anxiously awaiting the gun. From Tahoe City, they traveled to Squaw Valley where they were released at time intervals a few minutes apart. The sun was just coming up by this time and the light was hitting the tops of the peaks of kt2z where the travelers were heatied. Atop the ridge they headed down into Robinson's Flat where there was a 45 minute stop and veterinarian check, The worst part of the trail lay just ahead and down into two very steep and rough canyons leading to Last Chance and then on to Michigan Bluff. It was said that if the horse and rider made it that far, their chances of completing the ride were good, Many of the horses were eliminated at Michigan Bfuff during, the middle of the day when the heat was tremendous in the bottom of the canyons, * From Michigan Bluff the trail zig-zags back and forth across the river, along the bottom of the canyons, and on through the middle of Forest Hill over to Echo Hill, If the riders have made itthis far, it seemed just a hop, skip and a jump to Auburn, People waited anxiously at the fairgrounds in Auburn for the finish, Darkness fell and the people still waited. : At 10:30 p.m., Saturday, the first two very tired. and very happy riders crossed the finish line. Marion Robie of Auburn *was the winner. Three Nevada county. people finished the race, a tough feat be in itself, and received the 100mile silver. buckle. Bob Richesin had a time of 14 hours, 53 minutes; Carol Syer finishedin 18:06; and Sally Dargie finished in 18:32, _ All three finished in the top 20, Of the 115 starters, 52horses and riders finished. TIRED HORSES and tired riders (above) trudge across @ suspension bridge with many miles still to go during last weekend's Tevis Cup Ride from Tahoe City to psa see

ee ET uf 12 The Nevada County Nugget Wednesday, August 6, 1969 A GRUELING TEST of men and horses took place in the high Sierras last weekend as 115 riders took part in the rugget 100-mile Tevis Cup Ride from Tahoe City to Auburn. The photo above left shows typical hill climb country over which the horses had to traverse and the riders had to. stay in their saddles, Riders had to cover the 100 miles in 24 hours or less, and Marion Robie, did it in the best time to win the event. In the center photo, she is saving her horse for the long ride ahead by walking it up the steep grade between Last Chance and Michigan Bluff. The photo at right shows a horse getting cool as it fords a stream. Rugged trail pushes horses, riders to limit The 100-mile Tevis Cup Ride is known to most horse people as one of the roughest and ruggedest of endurance rides. _ It originated as a test of stamina to see if the modern horse could endure as much as the horses of the Pony Express days. The event is judged on the riders time and the condition of the horse at the finish. Last Friday, at Tahoe City, was just the beginning of a long awaited dream-for some people, but for others it was the end of a lot of hard work, Months of training and time had been put into preparing the horses for the ride. Tensions mounted as each horse was brought into the arena for the physical examination which. would qualify or eliminate the horse, The exam was very rigid and thorough, Dr. Jon Peek, a local veterinarian, served on one of the vet teams, Even though the horses passed the first exam, this did not assure the rider he would be allowed to finish, There were six other veterinary stations along the trail to insure safety of the horses, If the horse was checked at a later point and was found unsound, he was not allowed to go any further. After the physical, the horse and rider were given a number and the rider weighed in. The rider and all his gear had to weigh at least 150 pounds. at their stations ready to leave. In the darkness one could see sparks as the horses hooves hit. the pavement in the mad

start. What a sight 115 horses in the middle of Tahoe City anxiously awaiting the gun. From Tahoe City, they traveled to Squaw Valley where they were released at time intervals a few minutes apart. The sun was just coming up by this time and the light was hitting the tops of the peaks of kt2z where the travelers were heatied. Atop the ridge they headed down into Robinson's Flat where there was a 45 minute stop and veterinarian check, The worst part of the trail lay just ahead and down into two very steep and rough canyons leading to Last Chance and then on to Michigan Bluff. It was said that if the horse and rider made it that far, their chances of completing the ride were good, Many of the horses were eliminated at Michigan Bfuff during, the middle of the day when the heat was tremendous in the bottom of the canyons, * From Michigan Bluff the trail zig-zags back and forth across the river, along the bottom of the canyons, and on through the middle of Forest Hill over to Echo Hill, If the riders have made itthis far, it seemed just a hop, skip and a jump to Auburn, People waited anxiously at the fairgrounds in Auburn for the finish, Darkness fell and the people still waited. : At 10:30 p.m., Saturday, the first two very tired. and very happy riders crossed the finish line. Marion Robie of Auburn *was the winner. Three Nevada county. people finished the race, a tough feat be in itself, and received the 100mile silver. buckle. Bob Richesin had a time of 14 hours, 53 minutes; Carol Syer finishedin 18:06; and Sally Dargie finished in 18:32, _ All three finished in the top 20, Of the 115 starters, 52horses and riders finished. TIRED HORSES and tired riders (above) trudge across @ suspension bridge with many miles still to go during last weekend's Tevis Cup Ride from Tahoe City to psa see