Remembrances

Vicki Boicelli

Vicki and her husband Gene put on the Round Valley Ride for 14 years. Vicki was involved with, and in love with, horses and dogs from an early age. It was a love that never wavered. She bred Connemara horses and crosses on her property near Clayton and the NATRC records have many photos of her with her handsome white Connemaras.

After competing in some of the CMDTRA rides, in 2010, Gene convinced Vicki that they too could put on a ride. At the time they were riding together in the hills above their house and Vicki said that she almost gasped. She had manged and worked several events at CMDTRA and knew how much work was involved. She also knew that if Gene volunteered, she was volunteered. We know that through the years of the Round Valley ride, Vicki was the rock behind Gene and helped keep the ride on track. I had the privilege of working with them as the ride secretary for 12 years and saw how hard they worked to make the ride enjoyable for the riders and volunteers. Gene may have handed out the popsicles to the riders but Vicki made sure they were purchased and in the freezer. Yes, there were years we wilted in the heat, and the trails were not the easiest in the Region, but through it all they kept it going. Many of you remember hearing taps at night and reveille in the mornings and groaning at both. It was one of their ways to wake the ride personnel. When I think of Vicki, I see a smiling lady with one or two Irish setters at her side or a sturdy white horse beside her.

Happy Trails Vicki, we will miss you.

Linda Thomason

LeRoy Burnham

NATRC Region 1 has lost one of it's founding members this month-LeRoy Burnham, DVM. LeRoy was at the very first NATRC ride at Mt. Diablo in the 1960's and continued to support the sport throughout many years of judging. As a senior veterinary student, Leroy was on classmate George Cardinet's and Bill Throgmorton's team investigating pulse and respiration values on horses competing at the 1962 Mt. Diablo Ride. He was instructed on "how to judge a ride " and then told to go "do it." He then judged NATRC and endurance rides all over the country through 2021.

Along with many of you, I found LeRoy quite an intimidating judge (he mellowed over the years!) but as we all came to know and love him, we learned his "other side." He deeply cared for the animals, the riders and his country. He was a deeply patriotic man who served first in the Army after high school graduation and then for 27 years in the Army National Guard, traveling the world in the medical brigade, before retiring as a Full Bird Colonel. I'm sure the military is where he developed that booming voice which he used to order riders to "Move ON!" He helped out at county fairs, 4H, FFA and was active in Rotary Club and the Elks. He judged both AERC and NATRC rides. He was a practicing veterinarian for 61 years and never retired from the work that was his passion. According to his family he was the longest practicing veterinary practice in the county. He not only cared for thousands of animals through the years, but he also cared for their owners, guiding them through difficult decisions and always trying to educate them.

He was usually our NATRC judge at the Cowboy Camp Benefit Ride, driving around the trails in his quite elderly Volkswagen Bug. You've never fully experienced Cowboy Camp trails until you've bounced around them in Leroy's faithful old car. He could get that vehicle up trails where everyone else had a 4-wheel drive truck! He'd get out and grin when the other volunteers looked at him incredulously. Another joy of riding with Leroy was the conversation. He was extremely well read and could hold a conversation on almost any subject you could think of. Working rides with Leroy was quite an experience. Leroy was also a fixture at the Swanton Rides and was a good friend of the McCrary family. He'd often camp out for a week, judge and then take his vacation there.

Joan Throgmorton

Joan Throgmorton, dedicated trailblazer and trail advocate, was born in Portland, Oregon on July 17, 1934. From the time she was a small girl, she loved all animals, but was especially fond of horses. Horses became her lifelong passion, which she shared with so many loved ones and friends.

Joan competed in trail rides all over the United States. She was happiest when she was on a horse and wanted to share this joy with others. Joan was instrumental in promoting NATRC, starting in the 1960s until her passing. She served in many roles over the years: secretary, newsletter editor, judge, trail ride manager, and participant. In 1968, she helped found the San Martin Horseman's Association (SMHA), which continues to this day. Through these clubs, Joan was known far and wide as an expert horsewoman and advocate for horses and trails. When she wasn't riding competitively, she was judging competitions or working as support staff for rides by marking routes, fundraising, and following the riders on her trusty steed in case anyone needed help. If anyone was lost, they'd send Joan because she knew the trails like the back of her hand.

Joan knew the trails so well because she helped to create so many – she had a special gift for picking trails out of the wilderness, as she did with Cattle Duster, Coit Springs, and Domino Pond trails in Henry Coe State Park. But she didn't simply blaze trails, she also dedicated herself to maintaining them. She would jokingly boast that any trail she rode on wouldn't have a stray rock, twig, or leaf on it by the time she was done. Her tireless dedication to trail riding helped to establish so much park infrastructure that people and horses enjoy to this day. For more about Joan, check out Joan.

Dale Lake

Dale became active in NATRC in the early 70's, first as a competitor, then as a horsemanship judge. He was regarded as kind, generous with his time, patient with new (and old timer) riders, and always having an encouraging word. He was always careful to look for the positive in his comments, even when everything went wrong. He taught riders to be patient with themselves and their horses, and that the only failure was in not trying. Dale supported NATRC at every opportunity – as a P&R worker, judge, rules interpreter, ride manager, or assisting in NATRC clinics.

Such a wonderful, genuine man he was. He also helped on endurance rides, including the Tevis, at vet checks; adored his wife, Deanna; and always had a warm smile, a positive character, and such a nice laugh.

We0'll miss you, Dale.

Bob Waugh

For those of us who are long time participants in NATRC, we remember Bob Waugh as the smiling, cheerful, always willing to help husband of Karel Waugh and a long time NATRC member, competitor and volunteer. The Waughs lived in the Santa Cruz mountains and besides NATRC were active members of Summit Riders. Bob competed in barrel racing and poles as well as distance riding.

At rides, helping around camp, helping other competitors, helping in the camp kitchen- there was no job too small or too large that Bob wouldn't help with. Those of you who have managed rides, clinics, conventions know how wonderful it is to have someone around you can trust to follow through on an assigned task and is always willing to take on more when needed. He was that tireless worker.

Bob's kind soul will be missed in our organization. For those of you who didn't have the honor to know him, you missed out on a really great guy.

Jim Jeffers

Jim and his wife Jan started with NATRC in 1972 at the Gilroy Hot Springs Ride. Then, in 1976, Jim received his horsemanship judging card, and for many years he enjoyed working the rides as judge. He, along with Jan, also managed several rides, as well as helping out at numerous clinics throughout Northern California, including the Horse Expo in Sacramento.

I recall an early clinic (in the late 80's I believe) in the Gilroy area where Jan was instructing people on proper mounting technique. Jim was her demonstration rider. He walked out in the most outlandish multi-colored tights, bright shirt and decorated helmet. We all cracked up and could hardly keep a straight face during the presentation due to Jim's antics. He had a wicked sense of humor.

Jim applied his talents as an illustrator and for many years did all of the cartooning for HoofPrint. You may remember his design for the official 2004 convention t-shirt featuring a horse seated at the slots, happily winning a ton of carrots The convention was held at the Silver Legacy Hotel, so of course the horse became our convention mascot and was named "Silver."

In the 1980's, Jim served on the National Board of Directors and was co-chair of the Judges Committee. When not involved with horses, Jim could be found toying with his miniature train setup on his Gilroy property or touring on his motorcycle. Jim was involved in many aspects of NATRC and enjoyed sharing his talents and time to promote competitive trail riding. In 2009 Region 1 honored Jim and his wife Jan with the Jim Menefee Honorary Lifetime Membership Award for their tireless work and support ofthe sport and Region 1.

Maryetta Stebbins

Maryetta had been involved with NATRC since the early 1970's. She was an excellent horsewoman who took her horse, Pisano, to a National Championship the first year she competed him. After competing for many years, she began to manage rides. She was involved with the Dale Edgar Memorial Ride for many years, helped Emma McCrary with the Swanton ride, and helped organize numerous clinics. She also served many "tours of duty" as a rules interpreter, judge's secretary, P&R team member, ridecook, ride timer and basically wherever else help was needed. In 2002 she drove all the way to Oregon to volunteer as a timer for the ride.

She represented Region 1 on the National Board of Directors, served as the National Treasurer, the Hoof Print Editor and Chair for three national conventions, including the 2004 R1 convention in Reno, Nevada - the same convention that featured Jim's drawing of Silver as the convention mascot! She wore many hats over the years tirelessly supporting Region 1. In 2002 she was awarded the Max Barmettler R1 Honorary Lifetime Membership Award in recognition for her many years of supporting NATRC.

I remember her as one of the Pink Flamingo ladies back in the days when I first got into the sport. They were called the "Lovely Ladies of the Flamingo Lounge," the lounge being a van that belonged to R1 member, Pat Fischer. The Flamingo Ladies set up Bert and Ernie, their flaming pink flamingos, around their campsite at many rides. Maryetta would pull into camp with her motorhome, her large standard white poodle, and set up her pink flamingos. It was quite entertaining, although many of the horses were not so impressed.

One ride morning she was in charge of making coffee for the judges. You all know how important that first cup of early morning coffee is to jolt you awake for the ride. Well, you can imagine the looks on everyone's faces when they realized that she hadmade them DECAF!

Maryetta had an unforgettable laugh, and you could always tell when she was around in camp. She was a very approachable person, and one of her greatest contributions was her mentoring and clinics. She helped introduce dozens of people to competitive trail riding. I don't know how the name originated, but Maryetta was often referred to in Region 1 as "Mother Maryetta." After retiring from competing, Maryetta continued to help at rides until she moved out of state to be closer to her family.

Ellen and Rufus Lovett

Ellen was a long time NATRC competitor and supporter who competed in the 1980's and 90's. She did not begin her NATRC career until she was in her mid 60's but she accumulated 11,050 competitive miles, winning the Polly Bridges Award in 1995 and the Bev Tibbits Grand Champion (High Average) in 2000 with her horse Prince Alla Ba Ha.

Rufus accompanied Ellen to most of her rides and was always willing to help whether as gate keeper, driver, water boy, anything. Rufus would wander around camp, or a lunch stop, always with a watchful eye for horses he liked. If you gave him an opening, he'd compliment or give a constructive criticism.

Rufus and Ellen met in 1939 at a dance at the Carmel Farm Bureau Hall and were married in 1941. After the war, Ellen and Rufus resumed a life of farming in Dol Palos, cultivating rice, cotton, and milk cows. During these years they team-roped together, rode in horse shows, worked their ranch from horseback, and judged horse shows.

By 1980, Ellen and Rufus had relocated to Grass Valley, a higher elevation, cooler temperatures, less traffic, and greener permanent pasture. Around 1981, Ellen bought Sur Druz, a 15 hand, 6-year-old black gelding, at an auction and competed in endurance rides. She became friends with Irene King and Bev Barmettler who introduced Ellen to NATRC. Sur Druz won three NATRC National Championships and had over 3,000 miles in competition. As consistently as Sur Druz won Sweepstakes, Ellen would win a blue ribbon in horsemanship.

Ellen's next horse was Prince Alla Ba Ha. Allie and Ellen were consistently in the winner's circle. Allie won ten National Championships in 12 years. Ellen and her horse were regularly in the top two or three, nationally.

For many years, Ellen rode with boots, pressed blue jeans, and a Western hat and shirt. She traded in her hat for a metal construction worker's type hat. An anonymous pundit once said, "We will know the days of the Wild West are truly over when Ellen Lovett trades in her boots and switches to the distance rider's fashion of the spandex-lycra tights and running shoes." Ellen did ultimately ride with tights.

Peter Rich

Peter Rich was active as a competitor, Region 1 Board of Directors member, ride organizer, and owner of Bay Laurel Arabians, a well-known farm for training and breeding distance horses. He joined NATRC in 1976 and with his horse Bey Shahdal, he competed in many rides across the nation, winning National Championships in 1993, 1994, and 1995. He managed several rides in the East Bay Region of Northern California over the years and over time, introduced numerous riders to NATRC.

Peter always contended that endurance riders, especially new ones, could improve their performance and that of their horses by participating in NATRC rides. A point he illustrated by completing the Tevis Cup race five times ndash; one year Bay Laurel riders took four of the top ten places. While he may often have had a unique and individual perspective on things, his primary interest was always for the betterment of the sport.

Peter's other passion was bicycle racing. He had a long and active career in bike racing and raced in the fifties and sixties, including competing in Belgium and Italy. His love for cycling helped propel cycling in Northern California and the United States, and in 2023 Peter was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of fame. He contributed to both cycling and equestrian sports in California and we are all beneficiaries of Peter's efforts to promote these sports, which he dearly loved.

Rita Schlim

Rita was a "Can Do" person for R1: she competed her Arabian gelding Kamil in the NATRC Open Heavyweight Division, winning several National and Regional Championships, managed several rides and was a hard worker on the Region 1 Board of Directors. She traveled and competed in Regions 2 and 3 in addition to Region 1. Rita was a very motivated, strong woman who sometimes "ruffled a few feathers" but always stood up for what she believed in. She contributed a lot to the sport and was a loyal friend to many in Region 1.

Emma McCrary

Emma McCrary carved hundreds of miles of trails through Santa Cruz County's wilderness to help bring others closer to the natural wonders around them. Using her cherished horses and a sharp chainsaw, Emma shaped paths through Henry Cowell, Fall Creek, Wilder Ranch and Pogonip parks. She worked with state parks to build several trail connectors, rode horse patrol, and at one point was the only civilian allowed to carry a chainsaw in state parks. Scoping out new trails for hours on end was not unusual for Emma, and searching for Emma after dark was not unusual for her husband. Forging ahead with hard work, Emma's philosophy was that the deeper people got into the woods, the more they would care for them.

Emma and her family put on the Swanton NATRC Ride on family property from 1972 ‐ 2007, 35 years. With lots of support, she put the first one together in 3 weeks. The only year she missed was the 13th, but the following year she had two rides, one of which was a clinic. Her goal was to have new trails every year, and she made most of them herself ‐ with help of her husband and his unique trail-cutting machine.

Her calm determination was legendary, and friends say it came without pretense or ego. Those traits served Emma well to leave a legacy of trails for bicyclists, hikers, and equestrians to enjoy.

Marion Arnold

Marion was a noted horsewoman and pioneer in the sport of endurance riding. Inspired by her grandfather, Wendell T. Robie, Marion leaned to ride before she could walk. Arabian horses, trail riding and endurance riding became her life's passions.

In 1958, at the age of 12, Marion finished the (now) historic 100-Miles-One-Day Western States Trail Ride (colloquially called the Tevis Cup) that was founded by her grandfather. She would go on the finish the ride 10 more times, winning in 1969. Her eleventh and final completion was in 1994 with her son.

Shortly after her final Western States Trail Ride, she transitioned to NATRC where she rode and worked tirelessly. She will especially be remembered for an NATRC event that she co-chaired out of Robie Park in Truckee. She was one of the founders of the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) and was elected to their Hall of Fame in 1982. She was also a founding member, and former president, of the Wendell and Inez Robie Foundation.

Marion will be remembered by our community for promoting and celebrating riding, and for conserving the historic emigrant trails of the High Sierra mountains. Marion will be sorely missed by all who love the mountains and love them best from atop a horse.

Bob and Karel Waugh

Karel Waugh wore many hats, often several at a time. She served two separate terms on the Region 1 Board of Directors, four of those years as chair and two as secretary. She became a horsemanship judge in 1991.

Karel was trail master or chair for the Dale Edgar ride for 12 years, chair for the Region 1 Benefit Ride at Almaden for two years, co-chair for the Swanton ride for two years, and was instrumental in helping to organize the Hoof Trek Monterey Bay ride at Fort Ord, California. Karel served as the Region 1 ride coordinator for several years. She was judge's secretary, driver and worked on the P&R crews. She also hung ribbons, timed trail and hauled manure bags. At rides, even when competing, Karel was quietly in the background doing something to help.

In her "spare" time she managed to complete over 5,000 miles of NATRC competition and put on several clinics to introduce people to our sport. She completed the Tevis three times.

Karel always had a ready smile and a delightful sense of humor. Her husband, Bob, often accompanied her, either to ride and compete or to volunteer in many ways while Karel judged. The Waugh's made the world a better place.

Rod Cole

Rod started riding at the tender age of 10 and as a teenager, he spent the summers working cattle on the Wilson Ranch in Folsom, CA. He rode for more than 70 years and his love of horses never waned.

Rod's involvement with NATRC began in the mid-70's when he and his wife, Reta, both competed. After he “retired”from competition with his beloved big Appy, Apollo, he joined the management ranks. Rod served as just about everything in NATRC during the 1980's and 1990's. He was a Ride Manager himself and the right-hand-man to many other Ride Managers. He served on the Region 1 Board, and on the National Board, both as Vice President (1987 and 1988) and then as President (1989 and 1990). While he was Vice President he was instrumental in the creation of the Competitive Pleasure division. He was probably proudest of the implementation of the NATRC Scholarship Fund, which occurred during his Presidency. He was always a huge supporter of Junior riders and many of them, over the years, considered Rod to be a special mentor.

Marilyn Hunter

Marilyn was active on the Arabian horse scene for over 40 years. She was a big promoter of Arabian Youth Nationals, was on the Arabian Distance National Committee, and received the 2011 AHA Region 3 Volunteer Service Award (national level). Marilyn was a long-time member of the Placer County Search and Rescue Mounted Unit; a past board member of the Western States Trail Foundation, the manager and steward for local and national endurance rides and held various offices in the Mother Lode Arabian Horse Association. She had over 7,000 miles in endurance riding, and finished the Tevis in 1976.

Marilyn's NATRC horse was Rebel&$39;s Raider. Marilyn started Raider in NATRC competitive trail rides because she didn&$39;t think he had enough drive to do endurance. She soon found out that Raider actually had plenty of drive. Raider went on to win 9 NATRC National Championships, numerous other awards, and was inducted into NATRC&$39;s Horse Hall of Fame in 1993. Marilyn accumulated over 6,000 miles, and Raider had over 8,000 miles in NATRC competitions. In his later years, Raider delighted many nursing home patients with his visits. Marilyn was an NATRC horsemanship judge and managed the Mt. Quarry ride for several years.