
An Endurance Rider's Guide to the Tevis Cup: Prep & Vetting Tips
At the start of every summer, there is a group of endurance riders meticulously preparing for one of the toughest rides of the year: the Tevis Cup. Tasked with 100 miles in one day, these riders' journeys with their loyal steeds typically start years in advance, and their preparations continue up until the minute the ride starts. If you have your sights set on Tevis or are simply curious about what it takes to complete a ride like this, read on for RW-sponsored rider Sanoma Blakeley's tips.
Sanoma will also address the essential products that help her get to the finish line of this extensive ride, as well as some useful tricks for a successful and effective vet check. Finishing 100 miles in twenty-four hours requires a lot of prep work; as a former winner of this prestigious race, Sanoma knows what it takes to make it!
Getting the Horse & Rider Ready for the Tevis Cup
Getting to Tevis starts in a different place for every rider, but the end destination is the same: Robie Equestrian Park in Truckee, California. Like the ride itself, this road can be bumpy with many hills along the way. While no two people will have the same journey to Tevis, here are some universal tips I keep in mind to help my horse and me get to the finish!
Choose a Tevis Horse - This is arguably the most crucial step since it is impossible to compete in Tevis without a horse. For many riders, their Tevis mount is picked out several years prior. If you're unsure what to look for when searching for the horse that will carry you across the Sierra Mountains, read my advice on how to choose an endurance horse. Choosing a prospect capable of long distances and tough days on the trail will take you far!
Get Your Horse Ready - Once you've picked a horse to ride at Tevis, prepare them both physically and mentally. Riding the Tevis route is very stressful, and having a solid horse to take you across rivers, bridge crossings, and technical trails is helpful. It's a good idea to make sure your horse is okay with being sandwiched between other horses on narrow trails. Since your horse will need fuel over the tough course, it is also critical that they eat and drink well.
Condition Your Horse and Yourself - Once your horse is prepped for the technical trails and has bonded with you as their rider, ensure they are physically fit for the challenge. Tevis is by no means an easy ride, but it's possible to receive a shiny Tevis buckle with plenty of conditioning! There is definitely no shortage of hills on the ride, so include hill work as you properly condition your mount. Prepare yourself and your horse for the heat, as California is hot in the middle of summer; body clipping your horse can really help them on the ride. Furthermore, your horse should be willing to drink on the trail to keep themselves healthy during extreme heat.
Hoof Protection and Functional Tack - The Tevis trail is rocky and technical, and adequate hoof protection that your horse is comfortable with is absolutely necessary. I personally like to use the EasyCare EasyBoot Glue-Ons for hoof protection during Tevis. Tevis is the last place you want a tack malfunction to occur, so double- and triple-check all of your equipment before you start!
Feeding a Tevis Horse - Every horse is unique, and each rider should feed according to their horse's nutritional needs. I have noticed a fair amount of pulls at the early vet checks for tying up. Even if your horse is not prone to tying up, the extra stress at Tevis can increase their chances of ty-up; feeding accordingly could be helpful in preventing this. A low-sugar diet works well for our endurance horses, as well as feeding additional electrolytes leading up to the race. A carefully managed diet will help your horse!
Take Care of Yourself - Tevis takes its toll on the horses, but it also takes its toll on the riders. Remember to drink plenty of water and electrolytes. It's easy to take care of your horse and make sure they are drinking, but it's harder to remember to do it yourself—the same goes for eating. Prepare yourself for the heat and a long day in the saddle so you can be better prepared to take care of your hard-working steed.
Find Yourself a Crew - Gather up your friends and talk them into crewing for you; having a good crew is very important! I enjoy a crew that I am comfortable being around, even when I am tired or stressed. Having someone to support you physically and mentally when things get tough is a prime quality. Take care of yourself on the trail, and choose a trustworthy team to help get you across the finish line.
Vet Check Routine & Tips for Endurance Rides
Before the ride, I set up my hold area if it is an in-camp hold. I like to set out hay and grain for my horse as well as some snacks and water for myself. If the hold is early in the morning when it is still cold, I will set a cooler or blanket by the vet check area.
When I'm riding and I see the vet check, I pull out my vet card then dismount when I am close enough. While walking toward the vet check, I remove my horse's bridle and jog alongside my horse into the vet check on foot. With my vet card already out, I can go straight to the in-timers, and once I have my in-time written on my card, I go to the water trough and let my horse drink. Depending on the temperature and hold time, I will cool my horse while he drinks and pull his tack off so that once he is done drinking, I can head straight to the pulsers.
Once my horse has reached pulse criteria, depending on the length of the vet line, I will either grab a flake of hay to let my horse eat while we wait in line, or go straight to the vet. After vetting through, I like to take my horse to a quiet spot and let him eat while I rearrange my tack and take care of everything that needs to be done. Time always goes quickly and sometimes it takes longer to get ready than you realize, so I give myself plenty of time to get ready to head out again. You and your horse should feel reenergized and ready to hit the trail again as you leave the vet check.
Sanoma's Vet Check Tips
Have Your Vet Card Ready - One of the simplest ways to save time when coming into a vet check is having your vet card out, unfolded and ready to hand to the in-timers. It can be frustrating to have to dig around to find your vet card when you are standing in front of the in-timer! This will also help reduce congestion if a group of horses comes in at the same time, as it will keep the in-time line moving more smoothly. I like to pull my vet card out while I am still mounted, so once I dismount, I can be ready to move on to my next task in preparing for my hold.
Save Time Prior to Pulsing - Something I've found helpful is saving as much time prior to pulsing as possible. Once you have your hold time, you can take as much time as you need, but try to limit what you accomplish before pulsing. A few tips that can improve your horse's recovery:
- DO train your horse's cardiovascular fitness. Lew Hollander's book "Endurance Racing, From Beginning to Winning" has some helpful suggestions for training your horse's cardiovascular system to improve recovery times.
- DO dismount and hand walk your horse into the vet check to save time and lower the horse's pulse.
- DO lower your horse's head to lower their heart rate.
- DO cool with water and remove tack (depending on temperature and hold time).
- DON'T let your horse rub on you or the pulser. You shouldn't allow your horse to rub on you during training rides, so they won't attempt it when they are pulsing at a ride.
Go Straight to the Vet After Your Hold Time Has Started - Once your horse's heart rate has reached pulse criteria and your hold time has started, I recommend going straight to the vet. Personally, I like the peace of mind of knowing my horse is doing well. Going straight to the vet after reaching pulse criteria can also prevent your horse from stiffening up if the weather is cooler, and if the vet sees a gait irregularity, you will have time to figure out the cause. A few tips when presenting your horse to the vet:
- Teach your horse how to trot out at your side. If your horse doesn't trot out well, it can make it difficult for the vet to assess their gait. Also, pulling on your horse's head or dragging on their lead can cause them to look a little off.
- Make sure your horse is respectful of the vets. Don't let them rub their head on the vets. If possible, try to ensure your horse stands still when the vet is performing their examination.
Be Prepared Before the Ride - If possible, lay out everything that you will need during your hold before the ride. You don’t want to spend your hold time digging through your trailer for your electrolytes or snacks.
Help Your Horse Relax - Make sure your horse eats during the hold and is as relaxed as possible. Some horses do best if you can pull them to the side, away from the bustle of the vet check.
Take Care of Yourself and Breathe! - Don't forget to take care of yourself. It is easy to get so absorbed with feeding your horse and making sure they are doing well that you forget to eat and drink yourself. Take a deep breath and relax. Even if you are riding competitively, your horse will feed off your excitement, so try to be as calm as possible.
Sanoma's Tevis Cup Essentials
There are so many products needed to get ready for Tevis, and there are even more needed on race day. Here are a few of my Tevis essentials:
Hoof Protection
The Tevis trail is extremely rocky, and the EasyCare Glue-On Hoof Boots offer great hoof protection along with plenty of grip and traction for riding on asphalt and granite rocks. Out of all the things to worry about at Tevis, I never worry about my horse's feet with glue-ons. They don't rub and don't come off (if applied correctly). There is no other hoof protection I would trust as much as EasyCare at Tevis!
Saddlebags
Even though I hardly ever ride with a saddlebag, Tevis is the one ride where I need the extra storage. A pommel bag allows me to keep my eyes forward while still getting out what I need. Between the extra storage for human hydration, equine electrolytes, chapstick, and "in case of emergency" supplies, a saddlebag makes me feel like I have everything I need.
Horse Cooling System
In a race where cooling your horse down is so important for their recovery, having a reliable sponge at Tevis is vital. Sponging reduces sweat while increasing your horse's ability to cool themselves down. If you can sponge without dismounting, courtesy of a sponge leash, even better!
Closing Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed going down the trail with Sanoma on her journey to Tevis and received good insight on how you can gear up and prepare for your next ride with your endurance companion—whether it's Tevis or not! Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our customer service team at 1-800-620-9145 or info@ridingwarehouse.com for assistance. We invite you to shop Sanoma's favorite products below, and finish this article with a solid piece of her advice regarding Tevis:
"Whether you've just added Tevis to your bucket list, you're trying Tevis for the first time, or you have a wall filled with Tevis buckles, every year is unique with its own challenges and rewards. A bit of personal advice: Even if you do everything 'just right,' things can still go wrong. It might not hurt to wrap your horse in bubble wrap, since horses seem to have plans of their own! Take a deep breath, enjoy the journey, and soak up the experience. Finally, have a good time!"
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