A DAY IN THE SADDLE; RACE TAKES RIDERS 100 MILES.Byline: Daily News Horses and riders set off Saturday on a grueling 100-mile endurance ride through steep mountains and broiling broiling: see cooking. flatlands
Flatlands is a type of terrain similar to savanna and grassland. . Some 30 equestrians and their mounts, mostly Arabian horses, left the Elizabeth Lake golf course before dawn Saturday on the Californios 100 regional championship, which will qualify the top finishers for the national endurance championships in New Mexico. The race is named for the settlers of Spanish descent who ruled California before the United States conquered it in 1846. The Californios, men and women alike, were excellent riders, whom Americans of the time said seldom left the saddle. ``In those days, it was nothing to have people ride 100 miles in one day,'' said Vern Biehl, an Arabian horse breeder and trainer who is one of the race organizers. The race is sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference and sponsored by the Elizabeth Lake Golf Club, where the contestants camped and enjoyed a barbecue dinner and cowboy poetry recital Friday night. After Saturday's 5 a.m. start, the riders rode eastward on dirt roads and trails to connect near Green Valley with the Pacific Crest Trail The Pacific Crest Trail (also known as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail that runs from the United States border with Mexico to its border with Canada and follows the highest portion of the Sierra Nevada and , on which they turned back west. Their first mandated one-hour rest stop - with a veterinary checkup check·up n. 1. An examination or inspection. 2. A general physical examination. checkup See Yearly checkup. - came where the trail passed Lake Hughes Road. After the hour was up, each rider mounted again and trotted up the trail toward giant Tejon Ranch, where the ride left the mountains and entered the Antelope Valley's flatlands. The riders were due back Saturday night at the golf course, where an awards ceremony is to be held today. Only about three-quarters of the riders were expected to finish the ride. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos PHOTO (1--Color) Equestrians ride along part of the Pacific Coast Trail near Lake Hughes during the Californios 100 regional championship Saturday. (2--Color) Robyn Levash, left, of Chatsworth rides Classy in the race and Loretta Potts, of Paso Robles Robles is a common surname in the Spanish language meaning oaks, and may refer to:
(3--Color) Marci Conningham is astride a·stride adv. 1. With a leg on each side: riding astride. 2. With the legs wide apart. prep. 1. On or over and with a leg on each side of. 2. her steed steed see nag. Koztarr on the Pacific Coast Trail Saturday in the Californios 100. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News |
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