Horse News

2005 newsletter

I love to tell you news about horseback riding excursions and events at Ricochet Ridge Ranch in Mendocino, CA, but if you don't want to receive one or two such emails per year, reply with "remove" and you'll never hear from us again!

2004 was truly an adventure. We began by trekking to Argentina's Patagonia with a dozen fellow horse lovers for a nearly indescribable experience at Ashley Carrithers' Rancho Ranquilco. See the story complete with photos on our website, but suffice to say it was one of the trips of my lifetime. Yeah, at one point, we could have died, but we didn't. We'll be back. Visit Ranquilco at www.ranquilco.com for all their offerings; these folks are amazing. Brett and Sky are currently leading 16 students on a six week botanical trip from Ranquilco via the high country to Chili... on horseback and on foot. Are you ready for next time?

The 2004 World Championship Ride & Tie Race in June, based at our 300 acre Simcha ranch, was a party! The main event was joined by a 50 mile endurance race, a 30 mile limited distance ride, a 16 mile fun Ride & Tie, a 34 mile trail run, and a 11 mile horse/runner biathlon. Hey, these guys boogie, baby. Ricochet Ridge Ranch was represented by Nitecap, who took 1st place woman-woman team, ridden by Laurie Wilson and Brandi Page for a 2nd place over all finish, the highest place a w/w team has ever accomplished, I believe. Whisper, ridden by Mary Tiscornia and Sid Sullivan for a 4th place over all, 1st place man-woman team placing, also did us proud. Rascal finished with Karen Wolfsheimer and Geneviève Proulx (from Louisiana and Montreal, Canada), Forever Fire carried experienced RAT's Ellen Rinde and Leslie Yates through, and Victory finished strongly with Lani Newcomb and Kathy Broadus, veterinarian competitors from Virginia.

In the 16 Mile R&T, Nature's Ricochet was ridden by Kim Ferir and Sally Edwards to a 1st place over-all, 1st woman-woman team placing. Yeah, Rici, Kim and Sally!

In the 50 Mile endurance race, Cartier was ridden by RRR'er Christina Grosskopf to a 7th place finish, and Cynthia Ariosta rode her own grey Arabian gelding, Spirit, to 6th place. In the 25 Miler, Nature's Virshima was ridden by Joan Fitzhugh to a 2nd place finish, and RRR ranger Laurel rode her own Nature's Falco to the win. Joan has ridden with me in India and Argentina, and will be on this year's Kenya horse back riding safari. Way to go, Joan and Laurel!

All of this didn't leave much time for me to compete personally, but I did escape in October with Royal to take 3rd out of about 100 horses in the Sonoma 50 miler. Ivana from the Slavic Republic rode Whisper to 4th place finish, and my son Rafferty took Nitecap to 14th, with Kyra from Canada on Indiana Jones at 15h, following Laurel on Falco again in 13th. Miro, from the Slavic Republic, crewed for all of us. Thank you, Miro!

I can't begin to describe last year without talking about Meghan Gonski's story. From the depth of my heart, I thank everyone who helped us make a dream come true for 13 year old Meghan, who suffers from incurable cystic fibrosis. When asked by the "Wish upon a North Star" organization, her wish was to ride a horse, as far and as fast as she could, for as long as possible. Neither Meghan nor her brother, sister, or parents were riders before, but when the "Wish" foundation contacted me to ask if we could do this, I immediately said "yes!". In order to save the organization as much money as possible, we asked our business friends to join us at Ricochet Ridge Ranch in donating as much as they could towards the family of five riding on a week-long Redwood Coast Riding Vacation . Ricochet Ridge doubled up on staff to guarantee the safety of the family, all of whom eventually mastered the art of riding well enough to canter along on Ten Mile Beach. Due to the ravages of antibiotics, Meghan communicates mainly through sign language. Many thanks to Wendy Lee Beak of Comptche, Meghan's volunteer ASL interpreter for 2 days of the week, to Jeannie Collins and Ashley Gowen of Anderson Valley, who rode and interpreted for Meghan on other days, and to Carolyn Morgan and Cynthia Ariosta from Ricochet, who lent support to the Gonski family every day.

Meghan in the lead on Faraj

Perhaps the most important contributor to making Meghan's dream come true was Faraj, the beautiful grey Arabian gelding who had his ears forward in loving joy in every photo. Faraj seemed to know he carried a precious partner. Even though Meghan could not hear me when I called out "whoa" when we had cantered enough, Faraj listened and slowed to a walk immediately. I've never seen this horse look so happy as he did in giving Meghan her wish.

Please read the entire story on our web page, see the photos, and feel free to distribute it to as many venues as possible. Perhaps together we'll find the person who could make all our wishes come true... a live donor of give part of a lung to save Meghan's life. An abbreviated version of the story is in the February EQUUS magazine's "Back Page" story. Additionally, Kate DeLoach wrote a heartwarming story about the week in Southwest Georgia Living magazine... she and new husband Paul were celebrating their honeymoon!

October's highlight was the wedding of RRR's Cynthia Ariosta with her man, Steven Duerr. Many of you who have ridden with Cynthia remember that they originally came to the Mendocino Coast when Stephen saw the story about us in the New York Times Travel section in year 2000 (website link) , and brought Cynthia here for her birthday. This was the perfect wedding.... to see the many photos taken that day, visit www.pictage.com, Event: Cynthia and Stephen Wedding, Event Key: Cynthia.

The 2005 horse back riding safari in Kenya's Masai Mara with Gordon Church's Safari's Unlimited will generate another fabulous story.... but that one is yet to be written... I leave next week. Hey, I promise more photos than you ever dreamed of, to appear on our website upon my return.

The big news? This will be the last year for my personal involvement with the Redwood Coast Riding Vacations. Yup... I'm selling the business! Want to put your hair in a pony tail, plunk a cowboy hat on your head, and be the next "Lari Shea"? Hey, have I got a deal for you!!! But in reality, the new owner will probably have equaled or bettered my 5,200 miles of endurance races, with 99% in the top ten in the past 15 years, nearly 45% of which won my horse "Best Conditioned Horse" awards. I can't wait to ride along as a guest, sharing stories with all of you. But if you want to guarantee the experience, join Harvey and me in 2005 for new trails, stories and adventures. And if you are interested in a prospectus of the business sale, please contact me within the next few months.

In 2005 I'll be leading seven of our premier Redwood Coast Riding Vacations, with details on our website at www.horse-vacation.com. We also welcome private adventures and custom vacations with Mendocino Wine Tours, Surf and Turf, and other exciting packages offered with our partner Mendocino County Bed & Breakfast Inns.

"Trail Rider Magazine" interviewed me in a six page article for their July/August issue accompanied by lots of photos of our favorite riding trails. For a look at the photos and my answers to the myriad interesting questions they asked me, read the article on our website.

Everybody loved feeding carrots to Curundo Saladan, the black Arabian stallion known as Shiraz in our barn, who was sold this year to Steve and Laurie Simons in Texas. But we kept seven of his offspring, along with one stallion prospect son, whom we'll call Mendocino Zanzibar.

As a world wide traveler, people often ask me.... "Where's the most amazing place you've ever ridden?" I have to admit, it's right here in Mendocino. Hey, it doesn't get any better than this. Virgin redwoods, cattle ranch pastures overlooking the Pacific ocean, galloping along Ten Mile Beach with waves crashing against off shore rocks, seals and whales playing in the surf, and my absolutely incredible horses! It really doesn't get any better than this. So, y'all come!

But if you'd also like to join me in the next few years in Ecuador, Belize, Costa Rica, India, Australia or back to Africa, email to tell me so. I'm making plans.

Happy trails,

Lari

Folks often ask me my favorite story from the horseback riding vacations I produce. That's easy...

We met in a bar in Nairobi... in 1990, the night before the horse riding safari I led in the Masai Mara was to begin. I hadn't filled the trip, so allowed the outfitter to add two more men. Harvey and his son Eric introduced themselves to us as I was beginning an orientation speech to my guests, while we sipped gin and tonics to ward off malarial beasties.

Two days after returning to California, Harvey called to invite me to dinner. "Where are you?", I queried, knowing he lived east of Pittsburgh. "I'll be in Mendocino on Friday night, if you'll join me for dinner", he replied. Saturday morning, I put him on Sur Sharif, the horse with whom I'd won the Tevis cup the previous year, and I rode Gabriel, as always, with no bridle, halter, or anything whatsoever on his head. We galloped the length of Ten Mile Beach, and then climbed to the top of the first coastal mountain ridge, where we picnic'd on the finest coastal delicacies I could muster, as we gazed out over the cattle ranch below us to the sand dunes and Pacific ocean crashing against rocks offshore before rolling onto the beach.

We fell in love.

And last May, Harvey and I were married at newly named "Simcha" ("joyous occasion"), that same ranch land we were fortunate enough to purchase together a few years ago.   (I bought my wedding gown in a tack shop...)

Gabriel & Nature's Tzar carried Harvey and me to our wedding, the horses attired in gear found at the Nabour Camel, Ox and Horse Fair in Rajasthan during last winter's riding trek in India. (Join us next year on our return to that amazing, wonderful country!)

And meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Allow me to introduce Cynthia Ariosta, my new executive assistant. Originally from NYC, her boyfriend, Steve Duerr, brought her to the Redwood Coast Riding Vacation in 2000 as a gift. Six months later, they were back, Cynthia at RRR, and Steve managing the Old Coast Hotel. A life-long horse lover and an actor in her previous life, Cynthia brings appreciated organizational skills to Ricochet Ridge, as well. She also sings great songs along the trail, and never forgets a joke!

After nearly two years without a competition, Ricochet Ridge Ranch sprang right back into the world of Endurance Racing this fall. Cynthia rode Diva to a very successful finish on a first-for both-of-them 50 mile endurance race. Ekaterina Kobyzeva, a work/study student from Moscow, Russia, rode Nature's Nikita on her first 50, and Shiraz on his first 25 mile endurance events. On Niki, she took 3rd place overall, and 2nd place Best Conditioned Horse, so we were really proud! "Kate" is a 21 year old university student who is an excellent rider, but who specializes in show jumping at home in Moscow.

Like the other RRR wranglers, she learned to take her horse's pulse and respiratory recovery rates, and to judge metabolic factors such as skin response, capillary refill, gut sounds, jugular refill, mucus membrane and muscle tone, and to evaluate his locomotive soundness, as well as other veterinary criteria. She also now knows how to rate him along the trail over uneven ground, picking the best gait at which to keep him sound, and how to negotiate trail obstacles in the most safe manner. Fierra and Nikita received two of the highest veterinary scores I've ever seen at the Best Condition judging. It's really good for my horses, getting the type of exercise they do working at Ricochet Ridge. Thanks to all of you who helped by conditioning them on treks and riding vacations these past years!

Teenager Tara Covington and the chestnut Arabian Voltaire sailed through their first 25 milers. Ellie Marteeny rode her Arabian Damian to finish their first 50. Noel Daniels, Carolyn Morgan and Darla Dilly are keeping their horses fit and exploring new trials. Fuchsia Saraanin smoked the opposition on her own Sierra to capture two wins on two fifty milers in a row....(and was this “foster mom" ever proud of her!)

And I'm thrilled with my own return to endurance. Three different horses and I won Best Conditioned Horse Award at three 50's in a row: Nature's Fierra, 2nd place and BC at the Redwood Empire 50; Victory, 2nd place and BC at Cuneo Creek 50, and Nature's Nikita, 5th place and BC at Chamberlain Creek 50. Fierra also took 5th and 3rd place BC at the Sonoma 50......so I feel like I'm back in the saddle again.

But my son Rafferty was the real hero on the endurance circuit! On the Redwood 50, Kate, he and I rode together from the start of the race, winding up the mountain along narrow gorgeous forest trails, to the first vet check at 18 miles. Rafe was riding a very fiery gray Arabian named Cartier... a horse nobody at my stables wants to ride, because he rears and shies and is a hand-full to control. It was Cartier's first race. Nikita had bitten him on the back a few days before the race, and we were afraid the wound, about the size of a quarter, would prevent the horse from being allowed to start the race. However, it wasn't sore to palpation; the veterinarian said to put "goop" on the bite mark, and hope the soft 

Kate and our new Arabian stallion, “Mendocino Shiraz"

Now, Rafe hasn't ridden bareback since he was a little boy. And for a man to ride a horse bareback, trotting down hill, and cantering along on the uphills and flats, can be quite an experience! But Rafe was game to try... he figured he would jump off and run the down hills. The horse had also thrown a shoe, and the size 1 Easyboot we were carrying was too small for Cartier's huge hoof. I yelled out "Does anybody have a size 2 Easyboot we can borrow?" and, sure enough, someone came running over with one within a few seconds. Love these endurance riders! took off tied for 1st/2nd place with a girl named Holly, with Kate a few minutes behind us, and Rafe to leave the vet check five minutes after her. Fierra and I flew along the trail, but I was worried sick about Rafe the whole way... wishing I'd talked him out of riding bareback.

Just as the finish line came into view about 1/4 mile away along a flat dirt road, I saw Rafe and Cartier in front of us. But, wait!!....he had left the vet check behind us, and hadn't passed us on the trail, so ...he had cut the trail somewhere. Holly and I passed them and hit the dirt road at a fast canter. Fierra has never been asked to really gallop in her life, so Holly and her gelding took the lead, with Fierra's nose by her horse's hip. Just as I was about to give Fierra a big kick to try to boot her ahead for the last few strides into the finish line, Fierra saw our horse trailer parked off to the left, whinnied, swerved, nearly stopped, and tried to go home. She couldn't see the reason for passing up her comfortable corral, pile of alfalfa hay, and all the carrots she knew were back at camp. I just laughed, and finally got her to lope across the finish line in second place.

Fifteen minutes later, in came Kate and Nikita, looking like they had hardly done anything after finishing 50 fast miles! But it turned out Rafferty and two other riders had followed the trail marked for the 25 mile race, and had cut six miles off their course on the way in from the last vet check. Accordingly, they hadn't done the full 50 miles, and would be eliminated from the race. But Rafe said, "Hey, I'll go out and ride another six miles, bareback or not". He went back four miles up another trail which circled back into the race trail, making for nearly seven miles total, and they were given a completion certificate and the last place award. He's one tough cookie. He said the extra trail was even more beautiful than all the rest of the trails, so he was glad he got to opportunity to ride it...

Rafferty & Cartier cross the 50 Mile finish line. "To Finish is to Win!"

And speaking of opportunities to ride, we're offering something for every single budget option this next year.

Our premier event, the Redwood Coast Riding Vacation is the full tilt boogie, six nights, six days of riding, complete with fabulous meals, select California wines, hot tubs five nights, live entertainment two evenings, parties two other nights, snacks, beer and soda pops, and lodging at some unique North Coast B&B's, with the Pacific Ocean crashing just outside your door on four nights. $1995.00, double occupancy; $1695.00. May 6-12, June 17-23, August 19-25, September 9-15, September 30-October 6, 2002.

The Back to Basics version of the RCRV lodges you at the Tradewinds Motel. The riding is exactly the same as on the Redwood Coast Riding Vacation. Your meals will be tasty, nutritious and filling, but more casual, and you will purchase extras such as dessert and alcoholic beverages yourselves. Ditto the live entertainment. Their pool, spa and sauna are indoors; $1595.00; Upgrade with lodging, breakfasts and outdoor hot tub at the Cleone Gardens Inn, double occupancy, $1695, April 15-21, June 3-9, September 23-29, and October 14-20, 2002.

The North Coast Trek is offered any week, at your convenience. Five nights, breakfasts and lunches, riding five days, with recommendations for many wonderful dinner and entertainment venues which you will arrange for yourself. $1575 double occupancy.

The Mendocino Riding Trek offers four lodging options, with prices varying accordingly. The four weeknights/four day trek leaves time for days exploring the Wine Country or San Francisco to round out your week. $649/camping at MacKerricher State Park; $770 lodging at Tradewinds or Super 8 Motel; $865 lodging at Cleone Gardens Inn; $1150 lodging at the Mendocino Hotel. All prices are double occupancy.

Mendocino Weekends: Arrange your own lodging, or allow us to book you at the Mendocino Hotel, Cleone Gardens Inn, Tradewinds or Super 8 Motel. A terrific way to meet other horseback riding enthusiasts while enjoying a short, sweet horseback adventure.

Daily and Private Trailrides on the beach and into the redwood forests are available every day, English or Western, for all experience levels.

Custom Riding Vacations or Treks: Let us design a family reunion, endurance training seminar, photography outing, or romantic get-a-way.

Here's a parting image for you: last evening at sunset, Harvey and I were riding over the range land up at Simcha, with 20 RRR horses running free at pasture. Fierra and two others flanking her broke into a gallop, racing to the top of the knoll. Their trail split into a Y; one horse went right, and one left, with a coyote bush 5 feet high and 6 feet wide blocking Fierra's way. You could see her hesitate... to detour would lose her race to the summit. Gathering herself, she flew over the top of the chaparral, landing with tail flying, and a kick of her heels. This "photo" lives only in my mind's eye, but I hope you can see it also!

We're looking forward to sharing our incomparable horses and the joys of our spectacular, deserted beaches and trails through thousand year old redwood forests when you come to ride.

Cheers, 

          Lari

The New York Times Travel Section featured Ricochet Ridge Ranch Riding Vacations in a Sunday edition cover! story last February .... a three page glowing article brimming with photos of your favorite horses and views! Not mentioning she was a reporter, Nancy Starkey and her husband received no special treatment from Noel Daniels, their guide. The Times later sent photographer Sean Arabi up for a shoot. Sean already knew many RRR prime spots, having shot the "horses galloping in the surf" photo which appeared in Sunset Magazine last July. Our phone and email have not stopped ringing! And the reporter returned this May for another trek. See our website for links to this and many other articles.

Horse and Rider Magazine's last February "Vacation" issue also featured Ricochet Ridge Ranch in an article entitled "Sand Blast" by Anne Lang and Jennifer Forsberg Meyer. Delia Eschbach, riding my wonderful Arabian Gabriel as I do, with just a loop around his neck.... no bridle or halter, led the two equestrians on Nature's Tzar and Nature's L'Chaim, along with Anne's 9 year old daughter, Amy, on endurance Arabian, Faraj. Four fabulous grays!

You who have trekked with Ricochet Ridge remember the top-of-the-mountain ridge we ride up for lunch, with million dollar views out over the ocean and Ten Mile Beach. A partner and I have bought this 310 acre dream of a ranch, visible in the background of this photo, which includes two huge ponds, a couple hundred acres of southwest-slope rangeland, and some gigantic virgin Redwoods in its hundred acres of forest. New trails abound and the ocean vistas from each different ridge top are all spectacular. Already my baby horses roam free, vying with the resident bear, deer and elk for the fruit of the apple orchard, and evading the mountain lion we have often seen in the surrounding forests.

Who would want to endurance race for 2,000 miles across the United States, from St. Joseph to Sacramento? I would, of course! And I'm in great need of crew to drive my rig, help with my horses, and share the adventure on the 2001 XP in June and July. I'll pay all living expenses...... Any volunteers?

Now for some bragging.... Nature's Khrushchev and Stephanie Teeter were chosen to represent the United States, and successfully completed the World Equestrian Championship 100 Mile Endurance Race in Compete, France, this August! I flew over to crew for them....a truly awesome experience helping her wonderful husband, son and friends plot strategy and care for these magnificent athletes in their Olympic level event.

Last summer, Nature's Sungari, Nature's Nikita, and Nature's Khrushchev had carried the day at the Pan American Championship 100 Mile Endurance Race in Manitoba, Canada. Three out of three of my Nature's Ballet half- Russian Orlov sons completed that race, which I'm sure was an accomplishment unmatched by any other sire of any breed. Nature's Khrushchev and Stephanie Teeter, seventh overall, looked fantastic all day and at Best Condition. Another great honor for me was having Nature's Sungari and Nature's Nikita ridden so beautifully by two young veterinary students, Renata De Siqueira and Henrique Garcia, respectively, representing Brazil in the Pan American Championships. Renata and Sungari completed three out of three 100s in 1998/9, including the Cosequin Challenge in Virginia, the Twenty Mule Team 100 (6th place in S. CA), crowning their accomplishments at the Pan American Championships, in which they were the first "Brazilian" horse to complete. As usual, Sungari had all A's at his post ride vet check. And, again as usual, Renata, her mother and her uncle were gracious, diligent and hard working in looking out for Sungari's welfare. And now Sungari is on to different adventures happily ensconced with his loving new owner, Anne Francis, in Pennsylvania. We wish them every success.

Henrique Garcia had arrived three weeks before the race, to bond with Nature's Nikita. I warned Henrique that Niki was strong.. but Niki had met his match! Or, I should say, his soul mate. A lovely sight to behold the two of them, galloping on the beach and riding through the redwoods.

From left: Renata with Sungari, Lari with Avantii, and Henrique with Nikita

Henrique drove our rig most of the 5 days across the US with me, reporter Pamela Burton, and Donnie Butterfield, wife of (big) Wayne, who worked for me for so many years. We arrived a week before the event, and what fun we had! Our second night on the road, camping at the Wells, Nevada fairgrounds, we swapped tales with a gang of muleskinners from Montana who were traveling the Old Oregon Trail in covered wagons. We rode bareback in the full moonlight every night for hours, keeping the horses exercised and happy. Each horse had a double stall in my six horse trailer, complete with 5 gallons of water and a choice of hays to drink/eat while traveling. We exercised them each morning, once or twice during the day, and every evening for a long time. We all arrived in great spirits and condition. (One memorable moment ordering lobster dinner in North Dakota, Pam asked the waitress if they had any wine that didn't come with a screw top, occasioning a puzzled frown and....."How the heck are ya gonna get the wine out of the bottle if the top doesn't screw off?!?")

However, Avantii and I retired 72 miles into the 100 mile race. Avantii's speed had not been in question. (We won the pre-race over this 100 mile course the year before in a record 9 hrs 18 min.) After having dealt with an irritated "splint" early in the season, my strategy was to start very slowly, hoping to warm him up gradually without aggravating the splint. If we passed the first few vet checks, I would loosen the reins in the second half of the race, as I felt fairly confident that if we kept within about 1/2 hour of the front runners, he could move on up as the miles lengthened. After achieving "A" evaluations on gaits at the pre-ride vet-in and the first two vet checks, and looking great as Pam photo'd us trotting into the vet check, Avantii stumbled badly while trotting out for the vets at mile 72, came up gimpy, and we called it a day. A great day, while it lasted!

When we returned to Mendocino, Avantii, Nature's Nikita and Nature's Sungari were turned loose in my meadow after the 5 day drive. They took off passaging, galloping, bucking and snorting, looking for all the world as if they had enjoyed our journey every bit as much as did we, and were just as glad to be home.

Many of you remember Connie Reeves, who was 97 years when she rode with us on a weeklong trek two years ago. (My favorite quote: "Glory is a very nice Arabian, Lari, but I'd prefer a faster horse." ) Now 99, Connie continues to inspire all who know her, and also continues to ride.

Lari rides Gabe in a neck loop

Come to Ricochet Ridge to celebrate our new horses, panoramic ocean views and dramatic redwoods!

Cheers,