2024 Endurance Rides (1/5): American River Classic

Peering out the back window of my truck early on the morning of April 20th, I scanned the darkness for the eyeshine reflecting back off my horse’s face. In typical fashion, she had her face crammed into the hay net hanging off the trailer, seemingly unbothered by the constant pacing and whinnying emanating from her neighbors. Well over 100 horses were crammed into the gravel staging area and side road located behind the fire station in Cool, California. Despite the close quarters, my mare, Retta, was a happy camper, easing my nerves heading into our first 25 mile Limited Distance (LD) endurance race.

The American River Classic is billed as the country’s oldest organized 50 mile horse ride, located in the rolling hills above the confluence of the American River in El Dorado County. In 2024, 71 horses started the 50 mile race and 45 started the 25 mile distance, with 52 and 38 successfully finishing, respectively. The ride traverses grassy single track trails dotted with riverbank lupin and rockier fire roads with a decent amount of elevation gain and descent. Taking place primarily on the Olmstead Loop trail network and a section of the infamous Western States trail, the ARC felt like an auspicious beginning to my endurance career.

I arrived at camp the afternoon prior to the ride and wedged my horse trailer into a small parking spot with the help of a volunteer. After setting up Retta’s accommodations (a Hi-tie on the trailer) and mine (a homemade foam mattress in the backseat of the truck, no room to pitch a tent), I saddled up and rode a couple miles to stretch our legs and get acquainted with the trail. That evening we attended the pre-ride meeting behind American River Pizza & Grill. A volume issue made the ride information unfortunately difficult to hear. I was grateful to have a friend who I planned to ride alongside and for the pre-programmed GPS course provided by the ride organizers which hopefully help to keep us on track (subtle foreshadowing).

 The 50 milers were set to start at 6:00am and us 25ers had until 7 to get ready. By 6:30, Retta was tacked up and we were walking up and down the access road to warm up our muscles. Although we had dedicated months to physical training, it only dawned on me as I swung my leg over the saddle that I hadn’t fully considered the mental aspect that the day would surely bring. In theory, we were fully prepared, yet I didn’t have a full sense of how the day would flow or how Retta would react to the charged race-day energy. Thankful again for a buddy to show me the ropes, I shrugged off my doubts and pointed my horse down the trail. 

The first roughly 15 mile loop flew by, and before I knew it we were back in camp to check in with the vet, fuel up, and restock on electrolytes and water. My friend and I had decided to tackle the big climbs conservatively, dismounting and jogging behind out horses as we descended to the banks of the American River and leading them back up the strenuous ¼ mile climb before climbing on again for a “trot-by” in front of a veterinarian who would single out any lame horses midway through the loop. Back in camp, with only 30 minutes to get examined by the vet and prepare for loop 2, I barely had a moment to register that I was really “doing the thing!” With no time to sit and reflect, I refilled my water reservoir and hopped back on awaiting our out-time to be called.

Loop 2 presented less elevation gain, but more tight turns and intersections that were easy to trot right by. Dense foliage made marker ribbons tricky to spot at times. The two of us went off course for around 10 minutes before we realized we had made a wrong turn and were forced to backtrack. This cost us some time but we later realized we were lucky compared to some riders who had become so lost that they finished the ride overtime. Late spring run-off from the nearby Sierras made for flowing creeks and plenty of small water crossings as well as one more significant section titled “the long water” by ride management. To my surprise, Retta led a group of horses through it with very minimal cajoling on my end. My toes cleared the surface by merely a couple of inches and I had the sensation of riding a hippopotamus through a bog. Splashing along, we proceeded through the loop before coming into camp once again.

Five hours and fifteen minutes later, we had finished the ride in 15th place. Retta scored almost complete A’s on her vet report card, aside from two B’s for gut sounds during the mid-ride check. She was happily eating and drinking, assuring me that we had, in fact, been fully prepared to take on this new challenge. I was in a happy daze as I packed up my rig to hit the road, grateful for my horse, support from my friend, and the dedicated community I was now a part of.

For anyone considering attending the ARC: This is a beautiful ride, moderately challenging compared to some of my other 2024 rides. If you’re not a local, the trails in Cool can be confusing to follow. Plan for some water crossings as well as a mix of clay and sections with somewhat rocky footing. The parking lot size could be a consideration if you have a large rig, but there is an access road for overflow.