We Ride Sport and Trail Magazine December 2017 | Page 34

The second day, I was interviewed by the local radio station. I was asked a lot about Tevis and my journey with Asali. My favorite part of Tevis was going over Cougar Rock. It was my third time going over and each time I had a different experience. Asali didn’t go up it as easily as I had hoped. She tried turning around halfway up the Rock! It was her fourth time going up Cougar Rock, so I assumed she would go up it with no problem.

After the radio interview, Mom took me to Fantastic Caverns. It is the only caverns in the U.S. that you can drive through. There are only four drivable caverns in the world! The caverns were very dark and cold inside. I shivered the entire time I was in the caverns. The most interesting fact I learned about the caverns was that it takes a century for a rock to grow one cubic inch!

That night was the awards ceremony. I

received the award in front of a lot of

people in the stands. I received a

plaque congratulating Asali on her

Tevis finish.

Our last day in Ava, I got to participate in a cattle sorting clinic. There were a few old cowboys who were directing the clinic. I rode Amber’s 15-year-old Fox Trotter mare, Ladybug. I have never done anything of the sort before! We had to sort five cows, in a specific order, from one pen to another pen. The winning team is the team who can sort the cows the fastest in the correct order. I had a really fun time, I hope to do it again. The clinic was three days long and the last day you could win $1,000, but I didn’t get to stay for that.

Above, Asali and Jakob stop for a quick break in Michigan Bluff, about 62 miles into the Tevis Cup ride .

Photo by Kimberly Rivers.

Below, Jakob being interviewed by a local radio station at the MFTHBA World Show & Championship in Ava, MO.