After months of planning by ride officials, and often years of conditioning for both human and equine participants, the Western States Trail Ride 2009, popularly called the Tevis Cup Ride, started with around 171 human/equine teams at dawn on August 1 from Robie Park (7200 Elevation) near Lake Tahoe. If past statistics hold, only about half of the teams will complete the 100-mile journey to Auburn, Calif., within the allotted 24-hour period.

About the Tevis Cup Ride
The Tevis Cup, which has been held annually since 1955 and is by the American Endurance Ride Conference, is the oldest modern day endurance ride.

According to the Tevis Cup Website: “The ride was first organized by Wendell Robie, an Auburn businessman and devoted rider of the Sierra high country. Many people in the 50s doubted that any modern-day horse could cover the rugged trail from Lake Tahoe to Auburn in a single day. Wendell and a few of his friends proved them wrong in August of 1955. He continued to hold the ride annually thereafter and organized the Western States Trail Foundation to preserve the 100 mile trail and the Ride