Coolest Ride & Tie, Equathon & Run

Challenging fun with your horse and your own two feet in Cool

October 3, Cool

Bring your horse and a partner. Or come to run. Set in the Sierra outside of Auburn, the Coolest Ride & Tie, Equathon and Run events are challenging, interesting and fun. Co-sponsored by the Western State Trail Foundation, this year’s event benefits the Tevis Trail.

The Ride & Tie features 6, 9, 14 and 23-mile ride & tie courses; the Equathon offers 9 and 14-mile course options, and Run distances include 5K, 10K, 9-mile, 14-mile and 23-mile runs.

Ride & Tie is an endurance race, run on trails and cross-country, involving teams of one horse/two humans, competing against a number of other like teams. The humans alternate riding the horse a mile or so, tying him/her to a tree, and taking off running, while the other human catches up to the horse, unties him/her and rides past the other human, and so on. The human teammates work closely with each other and their equine teammate throughout the race, and mandatory veterinary checkpoints are in place to ensure the horse’s welfare. The course varies from singletrack to fire road, mostly rolling with a few short to medium climbs, ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate.

LOCATION: Olmstead Staging Area, Cool, CA. This course is on the Beautiful Olmstead Knickerbocker trail that includes views of Sierra Nevada. Trail varies from single track to fire road, mostly rolling with a few of short/medium climbs – ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate.

DIRECTIONS: From Sacramento I-80 going East: in Auburn, take Elm Exit, Turn L at stop light, one block, L on High St (hwy 49). Follow signs to Cool (6 mi). Right, St. Florain Ct. Olmstead Staging Area is behind the Fire Station. CAMPING: Olmstead Staging Area. As of now, no tent is camping allowed so you’ll need to sleep in your trailer. This may change so feel free to check in with us at a later time regarding tents. Overnight &25.00 paid to iron guard. Day parking &10.00 day pass or state pass. Please follow designated parking.

CHECK IN: Friday – arrive anytime. Check in starts at 3 pm. Vetting – Friday: when vet arrives, usually around 4:30 PM, Saturday morning starting at 6:30AM Friday Social

STARTING TIMES: Ride Meeting: 7:45 am. Start: 22, 14 courses 8:15. 9 mile 8: 30 / 5 mile starts at 11: 00 am. Times may be subject to adjustment. CREW: all vet checks are at race camp, Olmstead Staging Area

LUNCH/AWARDS: After races. Lots of great food and prizes!

RAIN? The County Parks Department requires that we cancel the ride if it rain within 24 hours. It is your responsibility to see if the ride is on.

OF SPECIAL NOTE: Olmstead staging area has a day fee of $10 per day, be sure to pay or risk getting a ticket. You do not need to pay this if you pay the camping fee, the day fee is for those who only come for the day. Please display parking pass in window!!! • Please clean up your camp – All manure and hay must be bagged and taken home with you. We will provide bags. • All juniors must wear helmets. • All dogs must be leashed – the park rangers usually cruise by and check! • This ride is property that is open to the public. You may see hikers, bikers, riders, dog walkers, etc! Please be courteous to other users – if the Park receives complaints, we won’t be able to come back • Must be a Ride and Tie Association member to compete.

---

Photos by Corey Rich.

Learn more and register at rideandtie.org. Or, contact Race Director Sue Smyth at (916) 316.2096 or susansmythjackson@gmail.com.