Tevis Entries Open Tomorrow! (February 4th)

Tevis Cup – 100 Miles – One Day
The Ultimate Horsemanship Challenge
July 12th, 2025

President’s Message

Another year is upon us, and the Board of Governors for the Western States Trail Foundation is working hard to prepare for the 69th Western States Trail Ride (the Tevis). Preparing for the Tevis involves so many more people than the Board. There are a multitude of individuals who contribute in one manner or another. These contributions range from big to small and from now until the days following the actual ride. These contributions are so appreciated and often done without recognition, but the Board and the riders are very thankful to those who help us with the Tevis.

For those of you who are planning on riding this year, know that all this work is being done to make your ride a success. Preparation includes ride day logistics, educational rides, trail repair, and much more. It is a flurry of activity culminating in Tevis. Riders must also do much work to prepare for Tevis. The work began years ago when those riders learned to ride and learned to be horsemen and horsewomen. They then had to train, condition, and compete their horse for years to get it ready to toe the starting line at Tevis. Or maybe I should say hoof the line.

With all this work, my advice is to make sure you enjoy the ride. Enjoy every inch of the trail, every view the trail provides, and every historical place on the trail that has names like Cougar Rock, or Last Chance or Deadwood. Know that those names have historical relevance of which to will be reminded. Enjoy completing the ride and earning the silver belt buckle. But most of all, enjoy your horse.

Tony Benedetti
President, Western States Trail Foundation

Ride Director’s Message

With the Ride Entry opening tomorrow, be sure to proceed with plans to enter. Our teams are already actively preparing for your Tevis trek.

The rich history of the Tevis Ride is a treasure. Beginning with five riders in Tahoe City in 1955, we have handled the never-ending growth spurts of an equestrian sport for 70 years. This year (2025) marks the 69th anniversary of the Tevis. In 2008 the Ride was cancelled due to forest fires in the Sierra, while Covid-19 forced our cancellation in 2020, which is why we are celebrating 69 years.

Last year riders gathered from 21 of our 50 states to experience the unique challenge that our Sierra Nevada range offers the endurance community. And for many, many years riders have traveled great distances to Tevis. We inventory national flags from the 27 countries represented by riders in the recent past.

This year I have received requests for information from international riders regarding acquisition of travel Visas from their home countries into the US for the purpose of participating (on many levels) in the Western States 100 Mile Trail Ride (Tevis). The WSTF encourages and supports international riders and their crews in this competition. We will be posting an official letter on our website to facilitate international riders in their Visa process to assure their home countries as well as our United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency that the Tevis is an International Event and welcomes participants and visitors.

This should be your year for Tevis. We will offer support where needed. Simply reach out to us and we will do whatever is in our power and control to help you make this dream a reality.

Chuck Stalley
Ride Director, Western States Trail Ride (aka Tevis Cup)

Work on the Trail

WSTF is putting out a call for Equestrians to work on the historic Western States Trail in 2025! We need your help and it’s a fun way to see the trail in great detail on foot and get in shape. Please sign up for a trail work date at HERE on our sister event -the Western States Trail Run (WSER) website.

A few upcoming opportunities to get involved in 2025:

May 10 – Eldorado & North Fork/Middle Fork Canyons
June 8 – Duncan Canyon & Red Star Ridge
June 21-22 – Trail Work Campout Weekend at Robinson Flat
July 26-27 – Granite Chief Wilderness Re-Route Project* Trail Work with Overnight Campout
August 16-17 – Granite Chief Wilderness Re-Route Project* Trail Work with Overnight Campout
September 6-7 – Granite Chief Wilderness Re-Route Project* Trail Work with Overnight Campout
September 20-21 – Granite Chief Wilderness Re-Route Project* Trail Work with Overnight Campout

* More information on the Granite Chief Wilderness Re-Route Project

Educational Clinic and Training Ride

In 2026 WSTF hosted the Tevis Education Ride:

Thanks to all those who attended this year’s event, and to all the volunteers who made it possible.

Tevis Education Ride
Saturday, June 13th
Chicken Hawk Staging Area, Michigan Bluff, CA
Cost: $150

~~The 2026 Education Ride will be a one-day ride on Saturday, June 13th. We will start from the Chicken Hawk campground/staging area near Michigan Bluff, CA.~~

The 2026 Education Ride has several changes from past years. This year we are doing a single day ride. WHY? We are revamping the program and didn’t want to overwhelm the committee, or our volunteers, with trying to do too much with the short planning cycle we have.

The Education Ride is designed and intended to give potential Tevis Cup participants additional skills and knowledge necessary for future participation, and hopefully successful completion in the Tevis Cup. While we would like anyone with an interest in the Western States Trail to be able to experience it, we have set participation standards for the Education Ride fairly high in order maintain a safe event for all. We appreciate your understanding.

Participants will camp at the Chicken Hawk staging area and ride out from Chicken Hawk along the Western States Trail, to Devil’s Thumb and then return. There will be one vet check along the route. The check will be at the Deadwood well pump during the rider’s return through the area. By doing an “out and back” ride the participants do not need to move their rigs or find a driver, and WSTF does not need to over burden its volunteer cadre.

Participants will travel in groups of 3-4, including a mentor. Participants that have previously completed the Tevis Cup may be allowed to travel the course without a mentor. Participants should reach out to the WSTF Education Committee prior to ride weekend to inquire about this option. There will be a safety/drag rider following the group throughout the event.

A simple post-ride meal will be provided to participants on Saturday night after the ride. Participants will need to pack a crew bag with any food/snacks that they may want at the vet check. There will be a Q&A panel during/after the dinner with experienced Tevis riders, volunteers, vets, and crews ready to answer all of your questions.

Participants that want to experience more of the Tevis Trail can ride out to Foresthill on their own, before or after the event. Maps will be provided. Participants can also trailer down to Auburn to the Tevis timed finish and camp in the “North Lot” and ride out to the river and back. These two options will NOT be supported with veterinary care, water, drag riders, etc.

No stallions. No mares in foal. No lactating mares. Hoof protection of some form is required. Safety is of the utmost importance. If your equine is prone to kicking, please keep a red ribbon in its tail. That being said, many equines do not like to be crowded, especially by strangers. Riders are responsible for maintaining safe space between equines

The USFS requires that only certified weed free feed be used on their lands. Several feed companies make pelleted feed that is certified weed free (Stablemix, etc.), and some make compressed hay bales that are also certified weed free (Tractor Supply carries this). Participants are cautioned not to feed hay that is not certified weed free. The USFS will be onsite during the event. USFS can inspect and require proof of the weed free certification. If the feed is deemed not weed free, WSTF can be cited by USFS and our permit canceled for the Education Ride and future events. If participants have trouble locating weed free feed, please contact the WSTF Education Committee for assistance.

Equine Fitness Requirement: Between December 1, 2025 and June 7th, 2026 your equine must complete one ride of 50 miles or more that is sanctioned by AERC or a similar sanctioning organization. This is to protect your equine. We are riding on remote trails, with significant climbs, and limited access. Just like the actual Tevis Ride, during the vet check equines will be monitored carefully. Before you even start, make sure your equine partner is up for the task.

Rider Fitness: For safety reasons, riders should be fit enough to hike downhill and mount their equine without assistance. You also need to be confident that you can ride 20-30 miles without issues. Riders must also meet the 50 mile ride fitness requirement that the equines have, but they do not have to be completed together as a team.

Cleaning Deposit: The United States Forest Service requires equestrian campers to clean up their camp sites to USFS standards. This means not just scooping manure, but also raking up old hay and feed. All riders will be required to pay a $40 cleaning deposit upon arriving at camp. This will be refunded at the end of the event before you leave. We will accept cash or checks. If you pay in cash, you will receive a cash refund. If you pay by check, we will return your check to you.

Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be sent via email by the participant. A full refund, less PayPal fees, will be issued for any cancellation received by May 30th, 2026. Cancellations made between May 31st and June 6th will receive a full refund, minus PayPal fees and a $50.00 admin. fee. Cancellations received after June 6th will not receive a refund. In the event an equine does not pass the initial Vet in, the participant will receive a full refund minus the PayPal fees and a $50.00 admin. fee. No refunds for “no shows.”

~~All participants will be required to sign a release of liability during check-in at the ride.~~

~~Please direct any questions to the WSTF Education Committee at TevisEducation@gmail.com~~

Thank You!

A hearty Thank-YOU to everyone that supported our annual year-end fund drive! We send out our WSTF Annual Report each November, highlighting our accomplishments for the year, and appealing for donations to support our Mission. With an annual budget of over $400,000 and activities that go year-round to maintain the trail, provide for rider education weekends, and stage the annual ride, we count on our donors to keep it all going! Our annual reports are available at https://teviscup.org/annual-reports/. Thanks again for helping us preserve this treasure for future generations!

See you at the AERC Convention!

The WSTF Board of Governors will attend this year’s AERC Convention, March 7-8 at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, NV. We’ll host an information booth and a panel discussion, along with our traditional Friday night reception. Please ask us your questions – big or small – about the ride. We want to do whatever we can to help make your Tevis dreams come true.

The Tevis Store will also be there, so come ready to shop!
Looking forward to seeing you there!

Calling All Vendors:

Vendor registration for the 2025 Tevis Cup will be opening shortly. Please check at Teviscup.org for this year’s registration form.