Following the difficulties during this year’s ride, WSTF Board of Governors has been working to better understand the issues, identify areas of improvement, and develop actions designed to mitigate risk factors, as well as improve the completion rate of the Tevis Cup Ride.
Thank you to all of the engaged Tevis fans for your support and suggestions to make this ride better and safer.
The below is a potential list of actions – we are still discussing specifics and analyzing the feasibility and advisability of options. Firm decisions and any resulting changes to the ride will be communicated early in 2025:
- Change ride start time and/or course dependent on ride day temperature. E.g. start an hour earlier to get more horses through the canyons earlier in the day, change sections of trail to get horses to canyons earlier in ride.
- Improve ride management communications. Add additional technology and revise communication processes between ride management, net control, HAM radio volunteers, head volunteers, and cup committee to be more efficient and effective during the ride.
- Create/provide rider education. Hold workshops to educate riders on the unique challenges of the ride to include horse selection and conditioning with the goal of managing expectations and underscoring risks.
- Update tack advisories/requirements. E.g. utilizing headgear and a breast collar.
- Improve effectiveness of cooling horses. Get water colder, advise riders and crew where/when/how to utilize all opportunities to cool horses down.
- Tighten veterinary parameters. In key locations – e.g. Last Chance – update parameters to better guard against horses becoming overheated.