Karma Comes Into Play For Engsberg's Tevis Cup Win

People attempt the Western States Trail Foundation 100-Mile One-Day Ride for any number of reasons. The history of the “Tevis Cup,” which began in 1955 and is the oldest modern-day endurance ride, draws some. The difficulty—it’s one of the most challenging 100-mile rides in the world—draws others.

But Sarah Engsberg had a more personal reason for taking on the trail. She was riding for Michael Bailey, who died before he could finish his bucket list, a to-do list that featured the Tevis Cup first and foremost.

The plan was to finish, hopefully in the top 10. But “To Finish Is To Win” is the motto of the American Endurance Ride Conference, and that’s never more true than in the Tevis Cup, where on average only 55 percent of the riders complete.

So Tevis Cup rookie Engsberg was surprised and ecstatic when she not only finished the ride, held Aug. 1 between Lake Tahoe, Calif., and Auburn, but also won it with a time of 15:05.

“It’s awesome, and I’m awestruck,” said Engsberg, Fairburn, Ga. “I am just so proud. We prepared, executed and got it done. And we did it for Mike.”

Bailey’s widow, Alison, hatched the plan with Engsberg back in January. Mike died in 2006, less than two weeks after he’d won the heavyweight division of the AERC National Championship 50-mile ride and won best condition aboard K-Zar Emmanuel.

“Since then Alison has been riding and competing the horse. There wasn’t a written bucket list, but there was a verbal list of things he wanted to accomplish. He knew he wanted to do 100s. He wanted to ultimately do the AERC National 100-mile Championship, which Alison [finished fourth at] in 2008,” said Engsberg.

But more than any other ride, Mike wanted to complete the Tevis Cup.

“Even when he’d just started and was doing limited distance rides, he always said he wanted to do the Tevis one day. That was always in the back of his mind,” said Engsberg. “He even bought books about it and printed out articles about it. We have those articles with us, along with all sorts of mementos—things that were his that belonged to the idea of doing the Tevis.”

Alison, Waxhaw, N.C., knew she couldn’t contest the Tevis Cup herself because of her fear of heights. She was discussing this with Engsberg at the Southeast Endurance Riders Association annual awards banquet when Engsberg said she’d always wanted to try the Tevis. Alison offered her the ride on the spot.

Engsberg, 45, had completed many 100-mile rides and earned a spot on the short list for the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2006, but she’d taken a break from the sport.

“I needed to regroup, spend time at home and renew my relationship with my husband,” she said wryly.

When Alison asked Engsberg about the Tevis Cup, she didn’t say yes right away. “I asked Alison if I could think about it,” she recalled. “I couldn’t sleep all night. So when we all met for breakfast, I told her, ‘Absolutely. I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do more than help you reach that goal for Mike and get that Tevis completion.’ ”

Thoughtful Preparation