Thanks to our Sponsors!
Endurance.Net
Best Condition Blankets sponsored by Mandolynn Hill Farm
Hoof Care Clinic by Global Endurance Training Center
Welcome Wine & Cheese Party sponsored by Vettec
2008 Fandango
2009
Fandango
2010
Fandango
2011
Fandango
2012
Fandango
2013
Fandango
photos from previous years:
Day 1
Images by Merri Melde
Day 2
Images by Merri Melde
Owyhee Fandango story by Merri Melde
Karen
Bumgarner's story
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A Multiday Pioneer ride with 3 Days of LD and Endurance
Plus Elevator 80 and 100 on Day 3
Photos by Merri Melde
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2014 Owyhee Fandango
by Merri Melde
by Merri Melde
5/25/2014
No matter the size, you've got a good crowd when some of the '-est' guys and gals show up at your endurance rides.
There's not much different about 59,000-mile Dave Rabe since his riding accident back in December of 2012 other than wearing a helmet (a good thing!) - he still wears shorts, he still rides the same couple thousand miles a season, he still rides the same white horse that might have killed him, and he's still the same nicest, Helping-est guy in camp and on the trails.
Need help marking trails? Dave will show up early and help you. Got a problem with your truck or trailer wiring? Dave will help you sort it out. Need Easyboots glued on before the ride? Dave will do it for you. Keep throwing your Easyboot Gloves on trail? Dave will stop to help you get a better fit so you can continue on your ride. Need help unmarking trail? Dave will do that too.
Much of all this in addition to bringing 3 horses to the 3-day Owyhee Fandango, riding 50 miles the first two days, and riding the 100 on Day 3.
This including riding his rogue horse White Cloud on the 100, the horse responsible for his accident, the one he still has to always be alert while riding, since White Cloud will still pull stunts if Dave is not paying complete attention. Why ride such a horse? "Because he's a good horse!"
Since his accident at the Death Valley Encounter in December of 2012, where White Cloud bolted and bucked as Dave was climbing on, once Dave started back on endurance rides (on White Cloud), the pair has completed over 1300 more AERC miles (and plenty more marking trail). The Owyhee Fandango 100 was White Cloud's 9th 100-mile completion, and 7315 AERC miles. His record shows one pull back in 2011. That's why Dave keeps riding this horse with a devilish look in his eye. Dave is now only 1615 miles short of being the High-est-mileage endurance rider ever. It might be White Cloud that gets him there...
A Fandango Video: Day 3: Petroglyphs and Snake River Run (*NO BOULDER FIELD THIS YEAR!) |
NEW! We will be hosting a 30 mile Competitive Trail Ride (CTR) on Friday and Saturday.
For any that want to try it, or to qualify for the AHA Distance Nationals in September. It will run along with the Limited Distance rides, and you can ride them both if you want. You'll just need to forego placement in the LD in order to stay within the rules of the CTR which has a fixed pace criteria rather than placement. read more about the CTR event |
Best Condition Blankets sponsored by Mandolynn Hill Arabians
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Come join us this year for another Owyhee adventure. We will have 3 days of great trails. This is a beautiful time on the Owyhee Front with abundant grass and wild flowers, water in the creeks and snow on the mountains.
Ride entry fees: 25,30, 50 and 60 miles endurance, and Competitive Trail: $100 (includes dinner and camp fee). For second or third ride day fee will be $90.80 and 100 miles: $150
Schedule:
Saturday Hoof Care and Booting Clinic
Christoph Schork will offer a free hoof care clinic on Saturday, May 24 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Christoph will demonstrate various hoof trims for barefoot riding, shoeing, booting, gluing. He will also demonstrate and answer questions about the newly released EasyShoe. Various hoof protection methods will be on display and explained, followed by a demonstration of an Easyboot or EasyShoe gluing on two hooves.
Don't miss this event! Mark your calendar for Saturday from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Owyhee Base Camp.
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Day 1: Sinker Canyon & Joyce Ranch 25/50 - ride through magnificant Sinker Canyon with high walls and flowing water. Very rocky through the canyon. Ride through the historic Joyce Ranch. One vetcheck, will be out of camp. map and details coming |
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Day 2: Hart Creek / Birds of Prey 25/50 - ride two large loops; south of camp into the rugged Hart Creek drainage, and north of camp to the Birds of Prey area with soft trails and sand washes. One vet check in camp. see map and details |
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Day 3: Snake River Run 30/60/80/100 - This will be a special out and back trail along the Oregon Trail to the Snake River. Ride below the canyon walls, by ancient petroglyphs and old homesteads. A day of beautiful scenery, river wildlife and great footing for the horses! Ride along the Snake River for 20+ miles! We'll take you up onto the bench instead of going through the boulder field, then drop back down to the river at Con Shea. The 80's and 100's will cross the Guffy Bridge to Celebration Park for a vet check. |
Ride management will provide dinner and happy hour to all volunteers and riders on the day that you ride. Additional meals may be purchased for non-riders and crew.
Fandango Trails Previews by Merri Melde
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Contacts Ride Managers: Steph Teeter, 208 473 4877 or 208 834 2788, cell: 208 250 6898 Email: steph@endurance.net
Regina Rose, 208 250 6882, Email: rrose4u2002@yahoo.com Head Veterinarian : Dick Root DVM
Additional vets:
Tom Currier DVM (Saturday and Sunday)
More on the Competitive Trail Ride Competitive Trail is a competition of a fixed distance traveled over a fixed 'optimum' time. The ride manager will tell the riders how much time they have to complete the course, based on traveling speed (between 5-7 mpg), time for pulse checks and lunch (vetcheck), and extra time needed to navigate obstacles (e.g. gates to open) and technical sections (e.g. creek crossing or steep climbs). All entries will finish at the same time, it is not a 'race'. Placements are determined by scoring points:
Pulse Recovery
Metabolics
Tack Area
Legs
Soundness/Lameness
Fatigue
Manners
There are no 'horsemanship' judging criteria, it's basically similar to standing for Best Condition judging.