June Meeting

Tuesday 15th, 7 pm (6 pm if you want to eat ahead of the meeting) 
at Baker's Square, Auburn

Gold Country Endurance Ride

Volunteers Still Needed

We still need the following jobs filled:

• P & R people for the lunch stop--2 to 3 people
• Two people to be at a water stop from 8:00 to noon
• Two people to help with a water stop from 9:00 to 5:00.
• One person to be at the highway from 8:30 to 10:30
• Two more timers (possibly)
• A few more people to help at the Ride and Tie stop (maybe)

Please e-mail me at glassman1@foothill.net or call me at 530.272.9222 as soon as possible to volunteer. Cherryl Holbrook

Endurance Ride Entry

Note that the ride is limited to 85 entrants.
The entry for this years' ride is now available for printing out from the web:

• Ride Entry
• Liability Release

(These links are also permanently available on the main GCER web page.)

Ride and Tie Entry

The entry form for the Ride and Tie portion of the ride, managed by the very capable Cheryl Domnitch, is available at:

• http://www.rideandtie.org/race_schedule.html

Club Dues:

• Dues are now past due for 2004!  Single = $15   Family = $25
• I will collect at the meeting, or they can be mailed to the club PO box: 
  P.O. Box 3412
  Auburn, CA 95604.  
• The email and s-mail lists were purged of "non-paying members" at the beginning of April, so if people want to receive anything, they must pay the dues. We don't charge for back dues - so there is no penalty for missing past years.

Snippets

"Back to Work"

After Karin's comment at a recent GCER meeting, along the lines of "Who hasn't gone through Dr Carol Gillis' rehab program, I had to chuckle when Lucinda Dyer sent me the following email:

So if you and your horse would like to become famous and get some good out of that heartache, please respond directly to Lucinda.

Carol Stiles' Story

Below is a post to Ridecamp from Carol Stiles, a local rider who was injured about a week ago. She is a friend of Judy Carnazzo and a rider I have seen on the trail and ridden by and with for a short time on various endurance rides. Her's is an amazing story about the resilience and determination of endurance riders. I visited her while she was at Sutter Roseville and was totally impressed with her courage and presence of mind to do what was necessary to survive. Thought everyone might be interested in her story.
Karin

Thanks to all the ridecampers who sent me get well e-mails. I'm finally home after 10 days in the hospital. The docs think it will be 3 months to a yr, before I have full use of my left arm again. It may never return to 100% but I'm hopeful it will. I'm just glad to be alive as I severed my brachial artery and could have bled to death. 

I was riding my greenbroke 7 yr. old Cosmo and we had already done a few miles when out of the blue he bucked really hard which sent me flying. I don't know what caused this as he had been a perfect gentlemen up to that point, no tail swishing or anything to indicate a problem. I think he must have been bit by a deerfly or bee.

Anyways as I stood up I realized my arm was badly broken or dislocated and sticking out of the antecubital skin (inside of elbow) The muscles, tendons, etc. were torn and exposed. The brachial artery was severed and bleeding profusely. I was halfway through the Knickerbocker loop so knew I had about 4 1/2 miles back to my trailer. I yelled for help but knew there was no-one else out there that day. My cell phone was dead as usual, doesn't hold a charge anymore. So I made a tourniquet out of the leather string I have tied to my rope reins, because I was getting faint from the blood loss. I drank all the water in my water bottle to try and get my blood pressure back up. I tried walking to the nearest house (several miles) but kept fainting from blood loss, so I knew my only chance of getting help before I bled to death was to get back on Cosmo. All this time he had stood by me quietly even though he was loose (I couldn't hold him as I was trying to stop the bleeding) I tried to pull myself up with my one good hand but couldn't. There were no rocks or logs around, but I saw a ditch and made him stand in it. Then I was able to hop on, dragging my mangled left arm with me. Unfortunately, Cosmo was so freaked out by all the blood and the left arm flopping around, that he refused to move. I finally had to slap his but with my one good hand, knowing I'd really be screwed if he bucked me off again. But it worked and he started walking with little baby steps. This is a horse that normally pulls my arms off he likes to go so much. I thought great, at this pace I'm not gonna make it.

I don't remember riding those last few miles, so I must have had angels watching over me. Sometimes I got so weak I just laid on his neck. I rode in the direction of where I thought the nearest houses were and finally found one that had someone home. A nice lady named, Vicky Rosbury, took Cosmo for me and dialed 911. Next thing I knew I was being airlifted to Sutter Roseville Hospital, where I had several surgeries to repair damaged muscles, tendons, bone, and an arterial graft and 2 blood transfusions. 

I am very thankful to still have my arm and be alive. At first I thought I would never ride again, but my girlfriend, Karlon Oliver would visit me every day and bring me horse stuff each time. So, by the time I was discharged, I was looking forward to riding again, just not on Cosmo. I don't think Cosmo bucked maliciously, but I'm not sure if I can trust him again. BTW, I was wearing my helmet, guess I'll have to get some body armour next and of course a new cell phone. Hope nothing like this ever happens to anyone else, but please be prepared next time you ride. Have first aid stuff, a tourniquet, working cell phone (even though they don't always work out where we ride), wear your helmet, and have a full bottle of water. The tourniquet and water saved my life.

Happy trails,

Carol 

Stories

Although lite weight, Pete’s reclining lawn chair could not have been blown away, even by the strongest wind. 
By Haywood

I thought it was hard. Nanci thought it was very hard. But Nanci likes it hard. The Wine Country Endurance Ride was harder than I remember. It is an excellent prelude to Tevis. There aint no flat. The only place it aint uphill or downhill is the transition between. 

The first loop was 26 miles and returned back to camp. The trail crisscrossed the rocky mountain trails several times and if you were not paying attention, the rider may wander off course. I think the only criticism I have is that it could be marked a little better. Nanci and I rode together, she on Harlee and me on Doc Holiday. As luck would have it, a few times when I was in front she corrected my route decision. I truly don’t know how Nanci remembered the course from prior years, but she did. 

The ride starts with uphill jaunt followed shortly by a radical uphill climb. As less than good fortune would have it, a rider in front of us rode a horse of little uphill talent. I would guess he held us up over ten minutes while his poky, talent less horse slowed the ascent of the extremely steep very single-track trail. My pony Doc normally likes uphill challenges, but once committed does not like to stop. On this occasion when forced to stop and wait for this moron in front of us, he baulked. Not a good place to be faced with a horse stopped mid-way up an extremely steep ascent; I was forced to encourage him as best I could. The approximately 45 seconds to do this felt like an hour; I don’t like this pressure or to encourage Doc this way. 

The course was rocky in spots, in fact very rocky. Padding your horse is zealously encouraged. Up and down we ventured experiencing vivid vistas found nowhere else. Many times we could see the road on which in we came. Early on we saw hot air balloons rearing skyward and then dip behind the mountains. There was plenty of water available. Some of the descents were very long, so we dismounted to take some of the burden from our steeds. 

The lunch stop was a short one-hour and we were back onboard. The maze continued as we once again crisscrossed the numerous single-track marginally thin trails. More that once Nanci and I discussed the Nevada rides of which we are so fond. This ride is 180 degrees different. But I must say I truly enjoy drinking with our Nevada friends. The final Vet Check on the trail was atop a hill and we led our horses in. Some of those who arrived before us were still waiting to reach criteria as we left. The last few miles in were the same as the first loop and we dismounted and jogged in. No problem with the final vet check, scored by well known and respected Doctor Jamie Kerr. Post ride meal and awards were casual and all riders received some two-buck chuck wine. Perhaps Chuck Mather, who came in second (but not best condition), got better wine. 

Overall Nanci and I like the ride, it took just over two hours to get there from our house in the motor home towing the trailer. Camping was excellent and everyone we saw appeared pleased. The potluck was very good with Pete Occhialini’s (whom, over the last few months, has learned to ‘sit’ conformably) homemade pasta sauce. 

Other 50-mile riders were Kristine Hartman, who tried to develop her own route by ignoring the ribbons, Cherryl Holbrook and Linda Cox. Other local riders also participated but they do not pay dues so ‘tough cookie’. Fifty five finished, 68 started. On the Limited distance side, Pete Occhialini out-trotted his wife Karin and Jim Holbrook to place in front of them. Again more local riders, but non-dues payers, so another tough cookie. 

Wild West Ride... the Nightmare of Tevis - 5
Lucy Chaplin Trumbull

All good things must come to an end and Provo's bid to do Tevis ended in tears at the recent Wild West ride at Skillman over Memorial weekend. The ride was great fun and I hope to go to every year... it just didn't work out too well for Provo. 

It started badly when it began to rain enthusiastically during the Thursday evening ride meeting. The rain continued all through the night, plopping fat drops on the roof of the trailer and I lay in bed rethinking what Cheryl Domnitch had told me the previous afternoon - that if it rained, neither she nor Dionne Wallace were going to ride. 

As it turned out, they did ride, but I should have followed their train of thought (instead of succumbing to herd mentality) and opted to ride Days 2 and 3. I was only intending to ride two of the three days, so it would have made no difference. Had I done this, we might have at least finished one of the days. <sigh>

Despite spending the night packed under two fleece coolers and the waterproof blanket I'd had the presence of mind to bring along, Provo was miserable and shivery in the morning. Someone reassured me that it hadn't rained that hard and what I'd heard was mostly just the rain dripping off the trees. But the trail was slippery and the more we rode, the worse it got along some of the repeated sections. 

Provo in "fire-breathing dragon mode" 
(photo Bill Gore)

If you were riding a sensible, thoughtful, adult horse, the slippery trail would probably pose no great problems... but I was riding Mr Fire Breathing Dragon who I foolishly tried to pace with his mirror image buddy, Bailey (aka Beelzebub). Provo just got progressively stupider and stupider, running through the bit and trying to go forwards however he could, with no thought to safety of life or limb.

(Bailey, I should add, went on to finish all three days in great shape and apparently only started to think about tiring at about 35 miles on the third day... you'll be seeing him at Tevis with rider Dennis Miller).

At one point I broke away and rode with Jennifer Niehaus and her husband for a while. Their horses were trotting along quietly at a nice even pace and Jennifer told me that it usually took 100s and multidays to persuade their horses to do that... I should be so lucky to get Provo as far as 100s and multidays...

He did actually settle at around mile 15, which was gratifying. I dropped back and hooked up with a friend, Dori Johnson, from Sebastopol who was riding her Tevis horse, Handy (Mano a Mano). Dori and Handy are a classic example of "slow and steady gets the job done". Taking the mantra "don't burn your horse out before Robinson Flat" to heart, last year she ended up riding too slow at the start of the ride and found herself dangerously close to cut off - resulting in having to chase time to each check for the rest of the day. But they finished, with 15 minutes to spare. In the future, I am aiming to ride all of my horses with Dori, in the hope that her sanity will rub off on them.

And so we came into lunch, having taken 4 hours to do the first 20 mile loop. Provo looked fine at this point and pulsed down very quickly, and we made our way to the trailer to declothe him and sponge off the worse of the crud off his lower legs. Once dressed in his fleecey cooler, we went back to the vet. He was checked for HR and gut sounds, muscle tone and MM. All were fine. We went to trot out and he suddenly turned into the Hunchback of Notre Dame - lurching along, his back-end locked up from massive cramping.

I've not had this happen before and it totally freaked me out. Provo wasn't just "slightly uncomfortable" - he could hardly walk. Luckily, Ed Klein (who'd done some chiro work on the horse back in April) was parked right across from us, so he did some massage and acupressure on him and managed to get him somewhat more comfortable and then I walked him around camp to try and get him warmed up for the next hour or so, as he continued to shiver miserably for a long time.

So that was that - the end of our ride weekend after a whole 20 miles. As it turned out, Cheryl's Mocha was pulled for lameness at lunch, and Dionne was suffering a flare up of her back problem, so both of them pulled out of camp in the afternoon. My trailer was buried deep in the back and wasn't going anywhere, which was OK - I had plenty of friends riding and could play crew for them.

The following day, I got up, looked at Provo's legs and knew he was done for the year. :(    Because he'd been so shivery the day before, I hadn't wanted to ice his legs after the ride. Saturday morning, his front legs didn't feel great - kind of lumpy and puffy down low, but nothing too bad considering he'd been tied to the trailer all night, but his left rear tendon (the one he bowed two years ago) had an extra lump on the side of it that hadn't been there the day before. Hmmm.

Lisa Jordan (the Reactor Panel saddle lady) came over to say hello. Lisa does some horse massage and went over him briefly and showed me how tight he was in the neck muscles (from pulling through the bit) and generally sore all over. I got more depressed at the state of my horse.

Lisa and I stuffed her car full of crew bags and made our way to Lone Grave vet check, where we spent the day crewing for 8 separate riders for two repetitions. I spent the few quiet minutes between riders getting more depressed and erupting into uncontrolled and unexpected blubbing.

Back in camp, I had vet Dr Rob Lydon check Provo over again and showed him the left rear tendon. Rob was unimpressed, but instead concerned about something he could feel down low on the suspensory on the right front and recommended I got that ultra-sounded. Later that week, I took Provo to Dr Larry Goss in Auburn, who very convincingly showed me that Provo's left front suspensory was the biggest problem - which kind of gives you an idea about what we were up against in terms of "things wrong with the pone" - pick a leg. Provo will be off through 2005... and possibly permanently. We'll just have to see how he heals - but given the number of creaky areas in his body, it's hard to say if he'll become sound enough to manage 50s (right now, I've got my eye on Ride & Tie... he might like that sometime in the future...).

So that was the end of Provo's Tevis bid. It didn't come as any great surprise, as I knew going in that he didn't have the soundest of framework in the first place, but it was worth a shot.

In terms of my ride, however, I may still be in. I have very kindly been offered someone's #2 horse, provided she doesn't need it <fingers crossed>. My initial thought was that I only wanted to do Tevis on my horse, but since my horses seem to break with tedious regularity, that may be a bad choice. 

As it turns out, I did end up riding the Day 3 50 at WW - on a borrowed horse belonging to Peter Rich. The horse was young Fausto who'd done the 30 on Day 1 and his rider didn't feel sufficiently recovered to ride him again, so I was lucky enough to be asked to take him on his first ever 50. 

Despite his inexperience, Fausto did incredibly well - vetting through with practically all As all day, and pulsing down with amazing speed at every check. Would that my horses came even close to his performance. He drank and ate and, except for one large sigh as we came into the vet check ("Will this ever end??"), he was cheerful and fun to ride all day. So if anyone's looking for an outstanding upcoming little horse, you may find him in Fausto.

 Lucy rides Fausto - note the relaxed posture 
and the smile on her face
(photo Bill Gore)

Bezetal
Humbly Submitted by Cathy Richardson

The purebred Arabian stallion Bezatal was more than just another handsome chestnut horse. Through his own accomplishments in endurance and that of his get, he has become the standard by which others are judged. To this day, the Tevis Trail hosts his sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, and great-grand-get crossing the finish line at Auburn in fine style. 

In pedigree, he's primarily Egyptian, although several of these lines on the dam's side took a side-trip through England. He has a strong pedigree that carries on well. CMK (Crabbet, Maynesburough, Kellogg) credits Bezatal with keeping the *Adlebar (his great grand-sire on his sire's side) line alive and well. 

More importantly, it's what he's done with these royal bloodlines that sets him apart. Bezatal himself holds the record for two Tevis Cup wins by a stallion, and in record time (1965 – 11:30; 1967 – 11:47). His direct bloodlines have garnered five (count 'em) Tevis Cups, two Haggin Cups, as well as AERC and NATRC National Champions. It's not a mistake nor a coincidence. Bezatal set a mark and has left it in the world of endurance. Better yet, he's left generations in his hoof prints to do the same. 

Bezatal was foaled on March 5, 1958. He didn't stand at stud until 1965, thus, his first foals hit the ground (running, no doubt) in 1966. His last foal crop was in 1987. His purebred Arabian offspring number 138, 98 of which are chestnut. I mention this only because the Bez kids, grand-kids and great-grand-kids that I know are all chestnut. Three of them with a blaze and identical right hind sock. This is a guy who's gene pool is evident even three generations removed. 

Leigh Bacco with Scamper Bezt, Tevis 2003 (20th)

The true strength of a stallion, of course, is in the quality of his get. I've been following the Arabian breed for more years than I care to count, but suffice it to say, it's not often that you come across a stallion as prepotent in temperament, talent, conformation and the ability to pass on a good work ethic as Bezatal. Repeatedly. You can take it to the bank. To back this up, let me briefly mention the Bez get, grand-get and great-grand-get that I personally know and have ridden many a mile with: 

Potato Richardson's Fille de Cailana. By Bez and out of a CMK-bred mare, Eden's Cailana (Cailyf x Llu Aalana), Fille is legendary in her own right. She has had many wins, including winning the Tevis Cup in 1998, ride completions and top tens too numerous to mention. If you're in endurance, you know Fille. She has a "go" button the size of New York State.  Fille de Cailana

Cindy Larkin's Bezamahr (Bezatal x Miya Mesaoud [x HMR Hallany's Mesauod]). Bezamahr has 1520 trail miles, many top tens, including one best condition. He's completed Tevis twice. He's a beautiful, big boy, and to see him go down the trail is a true treat.  Cindy writes: “We bred a mare to Bezatal twice.  Bezamahr is now 18 and I'm still riding him. He's done about 1500 miles of endurance including 2 Tevis rides. Bezaoud is now 19 and a dressage horse. We did about 1200 miles of endurance rides on him before we sold him.” Bezamahr

Bezaoud

Margretta Dahm's WT Robez, who's by the Bezatal son, Perpetual Motionn (x Malabar Budra). Robie is the epitome of the horse that every girl dreams of having. He's easy on the eye, always a good sport, and he puts up with all the silliness we girls can throw at him. He's competed in several 50's and is a cherished member of the family. 

The young French rider, Emilie Laurençon's, 3/4 Arab, Dandi Lion is also by Perpetual Motionn. To say Emilie's done well with this Bez grandson is a true understatement. He's had several Tevis finishes, first at first at Gold Country a couple of years ago, second at the Mariposa 50 year before last. He now resides in France, and I'm sure he's an ambassador of the Bezatal dynasty in his new country. 

Matt Scribner's Anglo-Arab, Banjo, by Cougars Gold (Cougar Rock [Bezatal] x Bint Gulida) is a beautiful 10-year-old who's just coming into his own. A lovely horse with a bright eye and sweet disposition. 

My very own Tevis mare this year, SMR FiFi D'Or, also by Cougars Gold and out of Fille de Cailana's half-sister, Jeune Fille de Cailana. Again, a wonderful disposition, lots of talent. A kind girl with an air of confidence. Why not – she's part of the Bez Brigade!

SMR FiFi D'Or, Foresthill, Tevis 2003

And don't think that the Bezatal get are limited to endurance. The Bez son Bezal (x Rushcreek Charlot [Al Marah Knight]) logged 1,200 endurance miles and then went on to become a successful dressage horse. 

Bezatal was owned (and owned by), loved, trained and ridden by Ed Johnson. His daughter, Kathi Theile, lives outside of Chico and has four Bezatal sons in her care. Ed and Bezatal showed us early on what team work was all about. A marvelous horse, and a horseman the likes of which we rarely see. 

So, next time you see a bright chestnut with a white sock or two and a cute blaze coming down the trail, you may be safe in assuming it's a living part of the Bezatal Heritage. As Kathi Theile says, "In the dust of his children, he will run forever." 

You can take it to the bank. 

Matt Medeiros' stallion, Bezt Splash, Tevis 2003

State of the Trails

Cronin Ranch Pledge Ride

Please mark your calendars for October 23rd for the Cronin Ranch Pledge Ride. More details will be available nearer the time, but if you take part in this ride, you will be one of the first people to get to ride this gorgeous new trails area (think "Knickerbocker, with South Fork American River access!").

Minimum pledge will be $35, but the American River Conservancy (ARC) hope that you can gather much more! Participating in the ride will also get you to a t-shirt.

Money raised at this ride will go towards the cost of the upcoming trail building that will be needed at the property which is just south of Pilot Hill. The opening date of these trails has been brought forward to late Spring of 2005, funds permitting!

ARC are still desperately in need of funding to purchase the property, so are eagerly accepting donations. Please help them with whatever donation you can afford.

Adverts

Hoofcare Clinic

2-Day Hoofcare Clinic 
with Martha Olivo 
of United Horsemanship. 
June 19-20 
9:00-5:00, Pilot Hill

Contact Judy Houle at (530) 888-0970 or 
judyshatir@yahoo.com for more info and registration packets. 

Signups need to be ASAP to
ensure enough cadaver hooves for everybody!

See Martha's website at www.marthaolivo.com. 

Learn this amazing technique known as the Whole Horse Trim TM, and join the ranks of thousands who rejoice in soundess they never imagined their horse could attain.

• $80 for Saturday's lecture and demonstration including dissection of a hoof, 
• $65 to audit Sunday's session, or 
• $130 to trim either your own horse under supervision or a cadaver hoof. 

Martha Olivo was a farrier for 25 years before hanging up her hammer and committing herself to this natural method of hoofcare along with an entire philosophy of natural horsekeeping which she promotes in her clinics. Her technique is also used to help foundered horses regain soundness (this spring's high sugar grass has been bad for founder!).

A very educational weekend for anyone interested in learning more about hoof health and a more natural way to care for your horse. 

Martha also gives a 10 day "Hoof Groom" certification course, which qualifies people to trim horses other than their own. A second level "Hoof Technician" course is in the works, qualifying Hoof Grooms to treat problems like founder. 

Martha is a graduate of the Strasser School of Hoof Trimming, but models her technique more towards the wild Mustang model of natural hoof health than on Strasser's method. Hildrud Strasser is a German woman who advocates the same philosophies of natural horsekeeping, but is a bit more aggressive in her trimming technique than Martha. 

The barefoot technique utilizes boots, but only for rocky trails and longer rides. Darolyn Butler, a well known endurance rider you've probably heard of from Texas, stopped shoeing her entire string of endurance horses a few years ago. She does not have to boot in Texas, but does on the rockier rides. 

Last year, after being barefoot for a year, my horse Felex finished the Swanton 100 barefoot with foamed on Easyboots. What I quickly noticed was that he finally stopped tripping, a problem I'd had with him during his whole ten year career. He had finished 12 100's including three Tevises,(is that a word Lucy?) and was only pulled 3 times, but he was a "daisy clipper" and I couldn't get through a ride without numerous annoying small trips, and at times very large ones, sometimes resulting in falls. I had him adjusted which helped a lot, but didn't completely get rid of the problem until I stopped putting shoes on him. Unfortunately, I lost him suddenly six weeks later, when succumbed after two days of illness from what turned out to be a basketball sized tumor in his gut. He finished the ride with all A's and B's, felt light on his feet all day, and even though he was carrying that huge thing, at least I took the weight off his hooves that had, in my opinion, altered his gait and way of going and caused him discomfort throughout his career. Food for thought. 

Thanks! 

Judy 

Tevis horse wanted...

Hi All,

I am a 13-time Tevis finisher (out of 15 starts,with 4 top tens) who now finds herself without a mount for Tevis. My Tevis horse Felex died of cancer last fall, and my entered mount is not ready. So now I'm going to see if I can find a horse that I can work some kind of trade to use, say, a horse that the rider wants to see go, but feels they are not up to riding themselves, (they will be more prepared next year after their horse has done it) or an extra back-up horse that they wouldn't mind seeing an experienced rider take through the ride, a sale horse that would be more saleable with a completion, etc. 

I would ideally take over his care and keep him here in Pilot Hill, 6 miles from No Hands Bridge, to get to know him as well as possible up until the ride, condition him carefully on the trail, work closely with the owner's wishes, and of course do lots of massage plus work a trade for say, a year's worth of free massage on their horses, or a trade with someone who wants to use my Tevis Trail Guide, Accommodations and Consulting service. (See my ad on the Tevis website and the upcoming Tevis Forum) Barter is the only way I can go, as I lack the funds for a lease. Anyone interested can look up my ride record, and I can provide references - Cory Soltau, DVM, Shirley Delsart, Lisa Jordan, Mike Tracy, to name a few. 

I would greatly appreciate it if you would forward this to anyone you know who might have or know of a horse. 

THANKS!!!

Judy Houle, EBW (530) 888-0970
Maximum Equine
Muscle Therapy
Tevis Trail Training, 
Guide and Consulting Service
4702 Pedro Hill Rd.
Pilot Hill, CA 95664

Timex Ironman Men's Watch

For sale. Barely used. $45 new, Sell for $20. 
Perfect Tevis watch, has INDIGLO. 

Judy Houle- judyshatir@yahoo.com or (530) 888-0970.

Upcoming Dates