Interesting this blog stuff. On another blog, bootsandsaddles4mel.blogspot, Mel describes his Tevis ride experience this year. Then "On the Bit" another blogger commented and asked "Now this might be a stupid question, but what makes that race special compared to the others?. Now do I respond to her directly on Mel's blog or should I go to "On the Bit's" blog to respond?
I don't know so I will respond on my blog "TevisPost.blogspot" The answer to On the bits question is; Once you ride the Tevis, no matter if you finish or not, you will be hooked! Of course there are a few exception but not many. I first saw a Tevis Buckle in 1972 and my mentor Paige Harper offered to help me get "one of those" He helped me buy my first endurance horses a appaloosa who was not a endurance horse and Paige and I rode together several times a week. He introduced me to Dru Barner and Wendell Robie and I was immediately hooked on the sport of Endurance. Paige and I rode together till he got his 1000 Mile Buckle. If you research the Tevis records you can see that Paige won the Tevis Cup in 1962 and the Haggin Cup the first year it was awarded in 1964 and he won it again in 1968 on a stallion named Raskela owned by Betty and Ralph Devers who were the timers for Tevis and many other rides for years and years. Paige passed away during the AERC Convention in 1978 he received his 1000 mile buckle in 1977. I give Paige credit for me receiving my 2000 Mile buckle this year 2009. So to answer the question why Tevis? It's the challenge to me.