Area rider finishes well in Tevis Cup

SkyHiDailyNews.com
Tennessee (Lane) Mahoney "Tenney," former Grand County student and resident of a ranch owned by her family near Kremmling, recently placed sixth in the Tevis Cup, a 100-mile, one-day, equine race from Truckee, Calif., to Auburn, Calif.

The Tevis Cup race is considered one of the most, if not THE most, difficult horse race in the world. The 2009 race had entries from six countries and 33 states. About 180 riders entered and 87 completed the race.

Tenney and her husband, Sean Mahoney, train horses and teach riding at their home "Remuda Run," outside of Fort Collins.

Although Tennessee has been doing well in the Mountain Region AERC (American Endurance Riding Club) and has qualified her horse, DWA Pearl, through Federacion Equine Internacional to possibly compete in the Olympics, this was Tennessee's first time to ride in the Tevis Cup and her first time to ride Salty, a gelding of mixed breeds.

Tennessee began training in endurance riding with Global Endurance two years ago and she and her horse DWA (Drinkers of the Wind Arabians) Pearl have been selected to compete in the endurance riding Olympic Trials this October for the 2010 Olympics to be held in Kentucky that year.

Tennessee moved here from Virginia in 1989 when she was only 7 years old and had been doing horse work Western style both in Virginia, and at family ranches in Texas and New Mexico. She had done English riding and some jumping in Virginia since she was 3.

However, after moving to Colorado, she began riding in the local gymkanas and rodeos along with helping with cattle work at her home ranch. After going to High School at Fountain Valley School near Co. Springs, she learned to drive big Belgians in the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo and at the Denver Stock Show.