Trail accident during Tevis Cup leaves horse dead; 2 others injured in falls

A horse died in an accident during the Tevis Cup ride Saturday. Susie Kramer and her horse, Steel, were involved in the accident between Last Chance, at the 50-mile mark, and Swinging Bridge. Steel, a 12-year-old Arabian, was being led by Kramer through a narrow part of the trail when he stepped into a bad spot and fell, Race Director Chuck Stalley said in an interview with the Auburn Journal on Monday. By the time Kramer reached Steel, he had passed, Stalley said. Kramer and Steel were veterans of the Tevis course, placing fourth in last year's ride. They were leading the race when the accident occurred. The Tevis Cup released a statement on Facebook following the accident, saying: "The thoughts of everyone involved with the Tevis Cup go out to Susie and her crew." Several people commented on the statement, offering condolences. "This is devastating news and my heartfelt condolences to Susie, Brad and her crew. Every riders worst nightmare," commented Nichole Grodski. "We will never forget the beautiful, brave and mighty Steel with a heart of gold." "My heart goes out to Susie and Steele, we all risk ourselves when riding trails," commented Beverly Poorman. "It is part of protocol to assume the risks, but we really never think it will happen to us. Be aware, be prepared and be wise when riding." "Anytime we lose a horse it tears at our heartstrings," Stalley said. "These horses are raised to compete and it's one of the dangers of the race. It only happens periodically, but that is still too often." Stalley explained that while, "We try to maintain the trail as much as possible to limit how often this happens," there's only so much they can do due to the historical status of the trail. The rest is maintained by the forest service. Two other falls during the ride left horses needing veterinary attention. One horse was airlifted to Foresthill and then to UC Davis after a fall suffered near the Foresthill marker. The horse was put in the intensive care unit and was expected to make a full recovery. The rider was also airlifted and suffered bruised ribs. Another fall occurred around the Cal 2 marker of the trail where a horse was rescued by a group of vets and volunteers. The horse was sent to the field hospital in Auburn to be evaluated and was released with minor bruising. "The Tevis board of governors is completely dedicated to giving these horses the best treatment possible when needed," said Stalley. The ride has 11 mandatory vet checks on the course, including checks at the start and finish.