Hi Folks: I must be a wuss, as there are sections of the Tevis and other
rides where I have dismounted and walked over the slippery spots.
This includes walking over Cougar Rock and the Elephants Trunk sections of
the Tevis, there are by pass ways to avoid some of this sections at this time.
To me if I can avoid a potential calamity I will.
Just a thought, even though on one year when I was "riding" over Cougar
Rock, a sweet wonderful lady was in such a rush or could not control her steed,
she and her steed passed me and bumped me as I and my horse were half way up
Cougars Rock.
You are absolutely right in what I was thinking of doing to this
rider. I was watching her, start her climb before and during her
maneuver around me on Cougar Rock, yes she was close enough to reach out and
touch someone.
I believe the slippery rocks in a very few
locations to require some thought to be given to rubber protection (easyboots,
plastic shoes etc) or borium. I personally don't want to ride that ride
without that added security. My family and I have tried the trail 8 times,
easyboots in front all the times but 4 times without borium on in the rear and
4 times with borium on the rear. The 4 horse/tries without borium have
resulted in one fall and two bad slips where their rear feet came up and meet
their front feet. That is all the evidence I need. I believe Harca and
Slyvia fell on a rock and hurt Sylvia? I think Tammy fell on the same rock
Lance fell on in 2003 and Tammy was out of the ride. It would be interesting
to poll everybody who has done the ride and see what they think. I am sure
there are people that don't think the rocks are slippery, but my horses seem
to find the slippery ones. I think speed has something to do with it. I have
felt that going quickly across those slippery sections can be safer as the
inertia helps keep the horse up and the next step gets traction. But we tend
to creep and that is worse.
