Fan Mail

From time to time, people like to share comments and tell of their experiences with Odom's Mountain Horse Ranch. We in turn, would like to share them with you.

Here's an email forwarded by Sandy Hayes from Nevada, who owns Pride's Sundance - now known as "Stevie."

Hi Fran,

Ya know that great feeling when your "young" horse turns the corner into maturity?

I got that last weekend. I was riding in Mt Lassen National Park over some pretty technical terrain. Stevie had to maneuver down some rocks that were pretty jumbled and steep. He followed the first horse easily over the first three sections. The fourth, he set himself up all wrong. I gave him a bit of time to see what he would do before stepping in and redirecting him.

I was so proud of him - instead of getting flustered and just jumping down to the next level or scrambling in the rocks, he stopped, stepped back, reset himself and glided right down like a pro!

Also, we lost a tire on Highway 5 going up. It was 101 degrees out, to boot.

I was driving along in my truck pulling my friend's 3 horse trailer. Everything was fine for the first 25 miles and then my truck started feeling funky. I though, oh, what now.... I had just had new tires and brakes and turbo and glow plugs, etc installed. Then a guy pulls up next to me and shouts "You're losing a tire!".

Sure enough, one of the 4 trailer tires was just cord and smoke.

Prior to leaving we checked the tires - good tread, good sidewall, good pressure.

I clicked on the emergency blinkers and took my foot off the accelerator. AS I slowed down to about 35 I started moving over to the shoulder - which was very narrow all along this stretch, but I did not feel safe driving any further.

Fortunately, I have AAA, a cell phone, and a trailer ramp. The man who live behind the freeway drove over to help me if I had to off load the horses. Fortunately, with the trailer ramp, I did not have to.

I was alone with the horses - picking one woman up in Redding on the way and the other was meeting us up there.

Those three horses were angels. Not a movement or complaint from them. They were quite patient as I drove to 2 tire stores looking for a replacement, too. Finally, after almost 4 hours in the trailer - over half of it in the Valley heat, we got to the cabin.

Quite an adventure!

Sandy Hayes

Here's an email forwarded by Sue Walz who rode Odom's Raven in this year's Tevis Cup 100-Mile One-Day Ride, an event which is typically dominated by the Arabian horses.

Hi All,

First, I want to thank everyone for the multitude of congratulations I've received! We had a great Tevis this year for Raven & I! It could've started better, but we made up time at Squaw Valley. The new start puts the riders in 3 pens, this year by their previous ride record. My last season was dismal so I was seeded in the #2 pen. Not what I'd planned. Raven has had a stellar season this year! I wanted to get to the front & let him stretch out & do his best! Instead I had to hang too much on the bit & pass people as I could. We lost over an hour with the controlled start & aftermath of it.

When we got to Squaw & Raven could move out he about exploded! Galloping up the road to High Camp & Watson's Monument. We ended up in the front pack of faster movers. More his speed! He made his way safely through Granite Chief Wilderness. That always makes me nervous, we had a bad fall there in '04. He was able to relax on a loose rein after that heading for Cougar Rock. I had decided that if we got to Cougar in a relaxed state that we'd go for it this year! He was & we did! He is a total point & shoot horse. He trusts that if I ask him to do something that it is doable. He didn't hesitate & followed the arrows up that landmark rock! He did stop momentarily before the big jump, I dropped back into the saddle & was pulling myself back up over his shoulders when the picture was shot.

We did it!!!! On the other side on the trail I was in a state of shock that we actually accomplished it without a problem! My feet were shaking in my stirrups!!! Adrenalin rush like nothing else!! We relaxed & took in the incredible scenery as we continued down the trail. The first third of this ride has the most incredible vistas to enjoy! You can see what I mean in the ride pictures for that high Sierra section of the Tevis.

We had a good rest at Robinson Flat. I changed him to his bit-less bridle. We got out in good time & onto the new section of trail. More interesting than the road we rode in the previous years. I'm sure it did add some more time but I'm glad they put it back in. We had a good ride through the big canyons. Raven got to do his downhill thing! He can really make good time on the downhills with his 4 beat Kentucky Mountain gait! I let him take his time going up the canyons. He pulsed down well on all the checks, often below criteria! My crew was great! They made the stops such a pleasure & let me relax as much as I could!

After Foresthill we had a couple of hours of daylight to get much of the California Loop done in. It was dark by the time we hit Francisco's. I pre-rode the California Loop more for me that for Raven. He knows it so well from year to year! I don't use light sticks. It interferes with the horse's vision. I think even the bright moon made it more difficult for him. In the
dark I try to keep his reins dropped or loose & let him navigate the trail. I swear, the darker it is, the better he seems to see. I get nervous, but he just flies through the night! He wants to get to the fairgrounds! He knows
it's not over until we're there! We crossed the river & went the wrong way on the trail briefly! We had to turn around in the dark & get on the right trail! The two women I was riding with trotted on ahead after awhile. I thought Raven would pick up & follow, but no, he wanted to walk awhile. I let him & he kept in his long strided flat walk. I started dozing off on his back! He took care of me & kept on the trail while I went in & out of consciousness. When I was awake I found myself hallucinating occasionally! Red glows around Raven, imaginary rocks... weird!

We finally got to Lower Quarry. Thank goodness! I ate brownies & put some Emergen-C into my water bottle. Raven scarfed down some mash & some hay. The volunteers were fantastic! At all the non- crewed check they were invaluable! Now it was to home stretch! The last 6 miles to the finish! We were revived & made a quick trip of it! We were joined by 3 other riders which helps keep the momentum going. We rode an amazing amount of trail this year alone. Raven takes it less seriously then. He was on a mission to get home now! He navigated the dark trails easily & soon we were galloping up the hill & over the finish line! What a ride!!! We came in 22nd out of 87 finishers out of 193 starters. I am certifiably addicted to the Tevis 100 mile ride!!!

Here is a Thank You note sent to us by two young girls, Lauren and Elizabeth, who recently visited the ranch and got their first exposure to Mountain Horses!

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