Educational Ride
2023 Tevis Ed Ride: July 7 – 9, 2023
Friday: Vet-in; Mentor Assignments; 5 Mile Night Ride to Michigan Bluff for Ice Cream
Saturday: Robinson Flat to Chicken Hawk – 28 miles, including the Canyons
Sunday: Chicken Hawk to Driver’s Flat – 24 miles, including the section of Tevis trail ridden at night
The Event:
The Educational Ride is aimed at riders wishing to participate in the Tevis Cup Ride in the future; to give riders a true look into the beauty of the trail and its challenges; to educate future Tevis riders as to best practices and horse care to help them successfully complete the Ride. The Tevis Educational Ride offers an opportunity to prepare for those challenges in a non-competitive environment.
As Last Year:
- Basecamp at Chicken Hawk
- No qualifying miles for Tevis will be awarded
- A 5 mile, night ride to enjoy the magic you would experience during Tevis
- Great food and speakers! (more info to follow)
2019 Stats:
- 35 riders entered the
Educational Ride - 13 of those riders went to Tevis
- 11 were first-time Tevis riders
- 10 riders finished, for a 77% completion rate
For 2021, the Ed Ride participant completion rate rose to 83%,
Mentors: The Tevis trail is amazingly beautiful from mile 1 to 100! But it is also relentlessly challenging. Pre-riding the trail greatly increases your enjoyment and chances of finishing. After completing the Educational Ride you will have seen the toughest 50+ miles. You will ride with an experienced Tevis finisher who will share ways to successfully navigate the canyons Day 1. On Day 2 they will share ways of confidently riding the narrow cliffy trail below Foresthill. We will make every effort to accommodate fitness and experience levels. You will be paired with your mentor on Friday afternoon.
We purposely keep the entries low (40) so the mentor to entrant ratio is 1 mentor per 2-3 riders. Once the ride is full, a waiting list will be maintained in case of cancellations.
Horse Fitness Requirement: Between January 1, 2022 and June 6, 2023 your horse must complete 50 miles of AERC Limited Distance or Endurance miles or a similar sanctioning organization.
For safety reasons: Riders should be fit enough to hike downhill and mount their horse without assistance.
Where:
Base Camp will be located at Chicken Hawk the site of the mile 64 Tevis Vet Check. It is a beautiful shaded camping area about 7 miles (15 to 20 minute drive) past the Foresthill and located 1/2 mile off Michigan Bluff Rd. The turn off to camp will be well marked. Horse water and [new, brick!] restrooms will be provided. Camp sites are level and shaded but limited in number. We are working with the USFS to increase capacity. Please share your rig/campsite with another rider if at all possible.
The Tevis Cup Official Education Ride Facebook Page promises to be a good resource to find a campsite partner. Please note: You are not required to have a campsite partner when you enter.
Arriving in Michigan Bluff on Day 1, 2017. Annette and Tonka completed Tevis later that year.
Entry Fee:
The $375 entry fee covers two days of mentored riding; the night ride and ice cream social; all talks and demonstrations beginning Friday afternoon (details to be announced closer to the event); and the Saturday evening meal.
If you do not ride both days, the cost of your second day’s entry will be converted to a tax deductible donation to the WSTF.
If you do not have a shuttle driver, we are lining up a fleet of dedicated drivers with empty trailers that you can reserve a ride with.)
Cleaning Deposit:
The USFS requires horse campers to clean up their camp sites to USFS standards. This means bring a leaf rake! We will have a manure dumpster on site. At check-in riders will be required to leave a $40 cleaning deposit that can be collected before they leave and after their camp clean-up has been OKed.
Cancellation Policy:
Life is what happens while we’re making other plans. Both for the Tevis and the Ed Ride, you may set the goal but your horse may still get hurt. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel. The Ed Ride overfills every year. Let the next rider move up in line by canceling as soon as you know. The deadline to cancel and receive a full refund less a $30 admin. fee is May 31st.
More Information:
“Take your time eating ice cream in Michigan Bluff to wait for dark for your return trip, to take advantage of this opportunity to ride a safe portion of the trail by the light of glowsticks!”
Night Ride:
Even the Tevis winner rides in the dark. It’s a long day for everyone! At the Ed Ride on Friday, we offer a 5 mile night ride to Michigan Bluff and back to base camp. You will start the ride at dusk with your mentor and finish back in camp after dark. We will serve ice cream in Michigan Bluff – be sure to hang out and wait for dark for your return trip to take advantage of this opportunity to ride a safe portion of the trail by the light of glowsticks!
Finessing Your Saddle Contents:
Due to USFS restrictions, Tevis does not allow crews into any of the stops along this 50+ mile section of the trail. No personal crews! During the Educational Ride, this is your chance to practice carrying all that you will need with you. At the vet checks we will have horse and rider refreshments and water. The rest you carry – electrolytes, hoof boot, human and horse first aid, snacks, human water, cooling aids, etc.
Food:
- Friday: Food available for purchase in camp
- Saturday: A catered meal in the evening upon return to camp
- Sunday: Breakfast before you ride
Just reading all this may leave you a little nervous. When we’re nervous most of us don’t eat enough or eat the right things. Our Sunday morning breakfast will remind you of the benefits of eating enough before and during your Tevis ride. At the end of Day 2 you will be amazed by all the energy you have left. A strong you makes for a strong happy horse that leads to a happy finish!!
Saturday’s meal will give you a chance to relax after tackling the canyons and enjoy some social time with your fellow riders.
Camp Check-In and Pre-Ride vet-in:
- Basecamp opens at noon on Friday, June 10th.
- You will need to sign a liability release and collect all your participation goodies.
- A different qualified horse can be ridden on Day 2. Please notify the ride office at check-in.
- If arranged in advance, base camp will open for early arrivals beginning Thursday – please contact the Tevis office at wstf@teviscup.org ahead of time to let us know. Note: Horse water won’t be available until Friday. Riders may also stay over until Monday if arranged in advance.
- Pre-ride Vet-in begins around 3 pm.
Rules:
The event will follow the Rules for the Tevis ride. Juniors (riders under 18) can ride with a sponsor over 18 years of age. A mentor can serve as their sponsor if arrangements are made in advance of the event.
“My personal record is 20 completions out of 23 starts, or 87%, and I’ve won it twice – in large part because I pre-rode this section of trail every year that I rode Tevis. You can only really know the terrain by pre-riding the trail. Otherwise you only have about a 50/50 chance of finishing. The Ed Ride is money and time well spent! AND it is the most fun you can have while getting ready for Tevis. JOIN US!”