Tevis 2012 was a great year for Renegade® Hoof Boots! A huge congratulations goes out to those riders who signed up and rode in Renegades.
Renegades were first used at Tevis in 2009, and each year has seen an increase in the numbers of riders who are using them. This year, 13 riders started in Renegades: 10 in Renegade® Pro-Comp Glue-Ons, and 3 in Renegade® strap-ons.
Ultimately, six of those riders crossed the finish line, four in glue-ons and two in strap-ons.
This year, Renegades once again proved that a strap-on hoof boot made for the barefoot performance horse can successfully conquer the trail and ride known as “The world’s best known and most difficult Equestrian Endurance Ride.”
Tevis 2012 saw a high number of sign-ups: 204 riders (2004 was the last year to have over 200 riders) started out of Robie Park at 5:15 in the morning on Saturday, August 4th. 24 hours and 100 miles later, 98 of those riders had crossed the finish line in Auburn for a 48% completion rate, right in line with the Tevis average of an approximately 50% completion rate.
Thursday and Friday, Renegade® Pro-Comp Glue-ons were applied to those horses whose riders chose the glue-ons as their method of hoof protection. Here, Chad Larsen boots Terry Banister’s Arabian gelding Ferrari.
Rider check-in starts at Robie Park, located just south of Truckee, CA, on Friday at noon. Riders collect their information packets, make sure all release forms are signed, then are free to take their horses to the preliminary vet-in exam. Pictured are riders Hannah Pruss (in green) and Karen Chaton (in orange); and Renegade® dealer and trimmer-farrier from New Zealand, Peter Greig.
Karen Chaton and Bo go through the initial vet check on Friday afternoon at Robie Park. All horses must pass this initial check before being allowed to start – vets want to ensure that all horses who are starting are fit and metabolically and physically sound enough to at least start such a demanding ride. The horse’s pulse is taken, hydration levels and gut sounds are checked, and the horse and rider are asked to do an out-and-back in-hand trot-out to check for soundness.
Diane Stevens and Titan trotting out for the vet at Robie Park on Friday afternoon.
Hannah Pruss and Krusador on the road into the Robinson Flat vet check, 36 miles into the ride. This check is the first of two one-hour vet holds in which the horse’s metabolics and fitness parameters are evaluated by veterinarians, and a mandatory one-hour rest is observed. Hannah and Krusador finished in 27th place, wearing strap-on Renegades.
Karen Chaton and Bo on the way in to Robinson Flat vet check. Check out Bo’s hooves: all four off the ground! Bo wore strap-on Renegades for the ride, and the pair finished in 23rd place.
Darolyn Butler and Diesel, heading into Robinson Flat.
Diane Stevens is all smiles as she and Titan head into the Robinson Flat check.
Molly Perkins and Doll walk into the Robinson Flat check.
Cheryl Myres and Jador look way too clean for the 36 dusty miles they’ve already travelled at this point!
Large water troughs are set up at the vet check for riders to water their horses before heading into the vet line. Janice Conner (left) with Ali and Nikki Clark with Cheval.
Janice Conner and Ali go through the vet check at Robinson Flat. Horses’ pulses are taken, and once they reach the mandatory pulse requirement, they are sent into the vet line, where the vets examine them for hydration, check their gut sounds to make sure they’re eating, check for any soreness, and finally, the horse is trotted out in-hand to check for soundness.
Joyce Corbett from Australia trots out Cytron at the Robinson Flat check. Vets are checking for lameness, making sure the horses are still moving freely and forward. The Tevis is a difficult ride with a lot of rocks and technical trail, and lameness typically accounts for roughly 1/3 of the pulls every year.
After their one-hour hold is up, Karen Chaton and Bo exit the Robinson Flat check. Both horse and rider have used the hour they have at this hold to rest, eat, and drink before heading out to tackle the trail again.
The one-hour hold is timed: riders aren’t allowed to leave before their time is up, and must check in with their rider cards with the out-timer before continuing on the trail. Molly Perkins and Doll wait for the ‘okay’ to leave the Robinson Flat check.
Safety riders – the Sweep Riders of the Sierras – follow behind the last of the riders, able to provide radio and basic first aid assistance should the need arise. They divide the 100 miles into segments, and each pair of riders typically covers one segment of the trail. A couple of the sweep riders this year were wearing Renegades!
Partway between the Robinson Flat vet check and the Foresthill vet check is the town of Michigan Bluff. It’s located at the top of the climb out of El Dorado canyon, the second of the three canyons horse and rider must traverse in the heat of the day, and water troughs are set up in the street – a welcome, cooling pause for horse and rider. Here, Hannah Pruss and Krusador trot into town – their Renegades provide them traction and shock absorption on the pavement and allow them to make time through town.
Another view of Michigan Bluff. Karen Chaton and Bo make their way down the main street – the trail picks up again at the end of the road.
Hannah Pruss and Krusador cool out on Bath Road, the traditional spot for crews to meet their rider to strip tack and start cooling down the horses before walking the rest of the way up to road to the Foresthill vet check. Foresthill is the second of the one-hour holds on the ride, at approximately 68 miles into the ride.
After cooling down at Bath Road, Hannah and Krusador will go to the P&R (Pulse & Respiration) area. After Krusador’s pulse is checked and found to be down to the required parameters, they go over to the vet check for another thorough check of metabolics and another trot-out.
Crossing the finish line, 100 miles later, at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn, CA. Riders have 24 hours to complete the ride, including the mandatory vet holds as well as the numerous other vet checks throughout the ride.
Diane Stevens (at left) and Clare Fleming both successfully crossed the finish line with time to spare.
