My husband, Larry and I and our friend Mary Paine were ride organizers this ride 2 years. I think it would have been in the 1980s. It’s difficult operationally because the ride itself goes 50 miles from start to finish in a straight line.
It also had one of the largest number of participants (if not the largest) of any endurance ride at that time (and that May still be the case).
It is also one of the oldest 50 mile endurance rides (if not the oldest).
Not too much climbing until the last mile or so up from the river to the town of Auburn, CA.
There were so many volunteers that wanted to help, but we weren’t assured of their participation until they showed up on race day (apparently like they’ve always done).
We, of course, were concerned until race day, and everything ended up working like clock work because most of the volunteers the progenitors of the sport of Endurance riding from Auburn and the surrounding area.Their knowledge of the sport and of the horse and riders needs was exemplary.
My husband completed this ride I think in the same year he went on to complete the famed 100 mile Tevis ride that was the course for the first ever 100 mile endurance ride in the world.
Since 2010 we have lived in southern France and we’ve had the privilege to see a 100 mile endurance ride over difficult mountainous terrain in southwest France. It is great to see how endurance riding in Auburn, California has taken off in popularity in other parts of the world.
It was rewarding to be involved.
