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[RC] Don's story-Tevis 2006 - Don and Pam BowenI just completed my third Tevis, it's three in a row! My first two completions were done with our tough little big horse, TR Whyatt. Both of those completions were special and gave me the needed experience in order for me to complete with Wild West, aka Willy, better known as Willy the Flying Horse! It's been three years since that Memorial Day weekend that Willy and I fell from the Tevis trail during a practice ride one month prior to Tevis 2003. We were at Kaput Springs, I let Willy get a drink and the trail behind Willy gave way. We went over backwards, Willy rolled over my leg and broke it, my head slammed into a tree and I stopped at about 50'. Willy fell another 500-700 feet, depending on who you ask. The story was in the March 2004 Endurance News, center section. But the story, briefly, is that I was taken to the hospital, a group of locals organized and found Willy the next day, he had to be taken out by helicopter. Willy returned to endurance and did the Bear Mt Valley ride three months later. In December, what the vet described as a very old suspensory injury reared its ugly head. We opted for the stem cell, and after a year off, my wife Pam started riding him again (per the vet's instruction to start with lighter weight) with great success. After last years season, Pam and I agreed we would switch horses and get Willy ready for Tevis, Willy and I had unfinished business. At the DVE ride an arrangement was made with Becky Glaser, that if we went to Tevis with Willy, she would be our crew, what better crew could any ask for? Willy did his first 100 at the Californios in June. Pam kept the boys legged up as I chased fire on the Angeles Forest in July. I showed up to Michigan Bluff with the boys the week before Tevis to stay with my Tevis family, the Hall's, folks that had helped with Willy's rescue. A funny thing happened on our arrival. I let Willy out first, as usual, but this time when I went to let Whyatt out, Willy, kept trying to push Whyatt back in as if to say "no Whyatt, don't get out, I know this place, this is bad place, dude this is where I fell". And Whyatt kept trying to back out saying "dude, I also know this place and the sooner I get out the sooner we eat"! That night I was invited to the Tevis Pre-Ride BBQ for the send off to this year's riders. It was at the BBQ I was able to tell Greg Kimler and others involved with Willy's rescue that Willy was here and entered in Tevis. We left Michigan Bluff Thursday morning and headed to Robie. On Friday we went to the vet-in and as luck would have it, I got Dr. Jim Baldwin who knew of Willy and his story. He vetted through just fine and we started the next morning. I feel we lost about an hour due to the new start and new trail. I think that's a fair assessment since I rode the ride the previous two years. The new start had great intentions but when it came down to it, the instruction to continue walking in a circle in the pens was not followed nor was the instruction followed to walk to the start in pairs. So we were already jamming up by the time we started and the balked horses at the trickle water crossing added to the frustration. The new trail out of Robinson had great views, but as mid packers we weren't able to make time due to the rocks and dust. I think this is now the new Dusty Corner. I know this to be true because I've made good time on the road used in the past. I know both of these items will be better in the future and this was just my experience. When we passed Kaput Springs, I was leading, Pam was behind, with a few others behind her. I yelled out the brief version about Willy as we passed by the spring, without stopping of course! Willy continued through the vet checks and trail fairly well all day. When we got to Forest Hill the amazement of Willy's accomplishments were starting to show through. Dr. Adrienne Brouwer, who was the vet that saw him after his fall and the rescue, vetted Willy. She couldn't believe it was Willy and that he was here at Tevis. He was a bit tired, but looked good, and after some food and rest he looked like a new horse trotting out of Forest Hill. At Francisco's she saw him again and commented he still looked good. At the finish all the vets looked at the horse that should have been dead let alone be at the Tevis and finish. As we completed the vetting and started our victory lap the tears began to form, for my partner, who was able to conquer the trail that tried to take him. A few horses have fallen from the trail and perished. This is the story of one that survived, and eventually finished, Tevis. Don Bowen =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. 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