Books about the Tevis Cup (Road to Tevis # 15)

Fantazia is still recuperating from her smoke exposure–in fact, today (October 11) was the first day the AQI did not go over 200. So no new training updates. Instead, I will list all the books about the Tevis Cup I can find between now and when this post goes public.

Nonfiction books about the Tevis Cup
Fiction about the Tevis Cup
Books about endurance in general

I haven’t read most of these, but I plan to when I get a chance!

Nonfiction books about the Tevis Cup

The Tevis Cup: To Finish Is To Win by Marnye Langer (2004, 304 pages).

One Horse, One Hundred Miles, One Day: The Story of the Tevis Cup Endurance Ride by Sam Savitt (1981, 90 pages).

Tevis Cup Magic: Taking on the world’s toughest 100 mile endurance ride is by photographer and blogger Merri Melde (The Equestrian Vagabond). (2019, 97 pages)

Tevis, from the Back of My Horse recounts Sharma Lynn Gaponoff’s experience completing Tevis in 2010. (2015, 153 pages)

Ride Like Potato: Learn to enjoy trail riding more than ever! is really about one of Potato Richardson‘s Tevis rides (not about learning to ride, or at least, that’s what I’ve been told). Anyone who can win Tevis at age 72 is probably worth reading anyway! (2015, 94 pages)

Strike a Long Trot: Legendary Horsewoman Linda Tellington-Jones by Shannon Yewell Weil includes Tevis but should probably go in the “books about endurance in general” section below. (2013, 356 pages)

One of the best sources of information about the Tevis Cup is the annual Endurance News issue on Tevis. Endurance News comes with AERC membership, or you can subscribe for $40/year (in the US. Use the Endurance news link).

Fiction about the Tevis Cup

Desperate Endurance is a cross-genre thriller/romance by author and endurance rider Kasey Riley. (2013, 368 pages)

Astra, by female jockey Chris Platt, is a middle grade book about a 13-year-old girl’s dream to ride Tevis. (2010, 176 pages) Platt has written several horse books for young audiences (I read middle grade and YA books all the time!)

Cowgirl by Judith Ayres Burke tells the story of a mother and daughter who complete Tevis together. (2019, 234 pages).

A Distance to Death: A Tink Elledge Mystery by Holly Menino is the second book about horse woman Tink Elledge (2014, 288 pages).

Books about endurance in general

History, biography, and autobiography

The Lighter Side of Endurance Riding by endurance rider Angie McGhee is pure entertainment. (2006)

Ten Feet Tall, Still by Julie Suhr is about endurance, but it’s also about the choices we make in life that take us away from and then back to horses. (2002, 264 pages)

Tonka the Red is the story of New Zealand author Alan McCaughan and his horse Tonka on their endurance journey. (2020, 110 pages).

Enduring Memories: Remembering those horses and riders who came before us on the endurance trail by Lori Oleson (2018, 220 pages).

Endurance…Years Gone By by Lori Oleson tells the stories of endurance riders and horses from the 70s, 80s, and 90s in the USA (2016, 205 pages).

Rough Magic: Riding the World’s Loneliest Horse Race, by 2013 winner Lara Prior-Palmer, is about the Mongol Derby, which is on my bucket list! (2019, 288 pages). It comes in audiobook too!

Last of the Saddle Tramps: One Woman’s Seven Thousand Mile Equestrian Odyssey was suggested by Susie Knowles on Facebook. It looks fantastic, but being out of print, expensive!!

How-to books, training advice, guides

Endurance Horse Riding presents endurance from a British point of view. (2015, 118 pages). (Endurance Great Britain)

Go Ride Far: Practical how-to from the running, riding, writing veterinarian Mel Newton, DVM includes a tutorial on how to back your rig… I might need to read it! (2019, 172 pages)

Endurance Riding–From Beginning to Winning by Patricia Ingram and Lew Hollander has amazon.com a bit confused… (1981, 231 pages)

Successful Endurance Riding by Patricia Ingram and Lew Hollander (1981, 191 pages).

America’s Long Distance Challenge II: New Century, New Trails, and More Miles by Karen Bumgarner is another informative read about endurance. (2013, 348 pages)

Endurance Start to Finish by Marcy Pavord might be hard to get (1996, 255 pages).

4th Gear – Power Up Your Endurance Horse by Dennis Summers includes anecdotes and lots of advice aimed at advanced riders (2012, 147 pages).

Go the Distance: The Complete Resource for Endurance Horses is the book most frequently recommended to newbies by experienced endurance riders. I have read this one. (2002, 264 pages)

Endurance 101: a gentle guide to the sport of long-distance riding by Aarene Storms, horsewoman and blogger (2012, 178 pages)

The Complete Guide to Endurance Riding and Competition is by equestrian coach Donna Snyder-Smith (1998, 256 pages).