Veterinary preparations for the 54th running of the Tevis Cup, a 100-mile horse race, have kicked into high gear as the Aug. 1 race day approaches.

Head veterinarian Greg Fellers, DVM, has been working on recruiting and organizing the 17 veterinarians charged with manning the nine equine checkpoints scattered between the starting point near Lake Tahoe and the finish in Auburn, Calif.

“Horse are evaluated for soundness and metabolic status, including hydration, heart rate, and fatigue,” he explained.

Riders are awarded a Tevis belt buckle if their mount is judged “fit to continue” at all checks while covering the trail within 24 hours