Tevis Forum 2013

30 ★ TEVIS FORUM 2013 I n my role as Assistant Ride Director (Upper Trail) for the 2012 Tevis, I was at the Deadwood veterinary checkpoint along with the Large Animal Rescue Service Team (LARS) when a call came in fromTevis Net Control (a Tevis group inAuburn at the Overlook area close to the finish that relays all radio and cell phone communications). The message was that horse #60 was in trouble and down on the ground on the trail below Devil’s Thumb. I notified Larry Goss, DVM, who was also at Deadwood and busy vet- ting horses, to be on standby. The LARS Team and I immediately departed for Devil’s Thumb. Upon arrival we were met by Greg Martin, Head Volunteer at Devil’s Thumb. Greg told us he had already sent a runner with a radio down to the horse and rider and was waiting for an initial assessment. While we were briefing the team and getting gear together, the runner radioed in with an update. I called Net Control and requested that they send a message to Larry Goss, DVM to come to our location and head down to the horse. As Assistant Ride Director, I was confident thatwithhavingLARS (whose members are both medic and large ani- mal rescue capable and equipped with everything from ropes to quads), and Larry Goss, DVM at the site, we could handle whatever we found. I radioed that I would advise Net Control further when I arrived at the horse and rider location. Tevis SOS Sweep Team 5 arrived and radioed in to Net Control that they had crossed Swinging Bridge and were about half of the way up to Devil’s Thumb and found horse and rider #60. Rider #60 told the SOS Sweep Team that she was okay, but the horse was still not Trouble on the Trail Tevis personnel, veterinarians always prepared for emergencies by Lynn Seeley, 2012 Assistant Ride Director moving well. After checking the horse, loading his tack onto the Sweep horses, offering water to horse and rider, and with a little encouragement and the rider leading her horse, Sweep Team 5 was able to keep the horse walking about 50 feet at a time between rests. Within a few minutes, the LARS Team, Larry Goss, DVM and I arrived at the horse. After further evaluation, we all proceeded forward. After several mishaps, including horse #60’s hind foot slipping off trail and the LARS Teampulling himback up this very pre- cipitous trail, and then hiking uphill for about another mile and a half around seemingly endless switchbacks, we all successfully arrived at Devil’s Thumb. A special thanks to the SOS horses be- cause they tailedmost of us out, pulling Left to right: Larry Goss DVM, Ashley Clark (Rider #60), Chris McMaster (LARS), lady holding Horse #60 (unknown), Ginny Davis (SOS Team 5 Team Leader) (red shirt/yellow vest behind unknown lady), Zack Witter (LARS), Patrick Mason (LARS), Kevin Green (LARS), Lynn Seeley (Assistant Ride Director Upper Trail), Jason Hoffler (LARS), Phil Nunnick (LARS), Nancy Brooks (SOS Team 5 member). Cheval (Horse #60). LARS=Large Animal Rescue Service, Nevada County Consolidated Fire Service, SOS=Sweep Riders of the Sierra. us up a VERY steep trail. While this emergency situationwas in progress, the SOS teamwas commit- ted and not able to sweep the leg be- tween Devil’s Thumb and Deadwood. So part of the LARS Teamwas assigned to sweep this leg of the trail, which they did on their Quads, completing the sweep between Devil’s Thumb and Deadwood. After horse and rider were suf- ficiently recovered at Devil’s Thumb they were taken to the Foresthill Vet Check by Horse Transport 1, where the horse was examined by a team of veterinarians. We always hope for no emergen- cies on the trail, but the Tevis teams of qualified people are always on the alert and ready to help. H