Arabian Silk: Horses of Endurance
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Willy's Rescue
Written by Don Bowen
In March 2002, Kathy Rutsky gave us the gift of Wild West, aka Willy, to replace my mare that
died prematurely from a freak illness a few months earlier. Willy wasn't enjoying his show career
and Kathy wanted him in a good home with no chance of seeing the show ring again. I initially
resisted ridding Willy but my wife, Pam, finally prodded me into it and then she rekindled an old
dream I had, the Tevis. I spent many months riding and conditioning in the tough terrain right
outside our home.
We had purchased a 2003 breeding from Patti Bailey and needed to deliver our young mare to her
ranch in Garden Valley, CA. I was entered in the 2003 Tevis and wanted to ride some of the trail
while there and Patti graciously offered to show me as the trail runs along her area. I arrived on
May 28th and delivered the mare to Patti's breeding facility. Willy and I stayed at Patti's home.
The next day we went for a ride, from Cool to the Auburn fairground. On Friday, May 30th, we took
a break and went to the Expo in Sacramento where I found and purchased my first helmet. On
Saturday, May 31st, we went on another ride, we planned to start at Michigan Bluff and ride to
Deadwood.
That day Willy and I were having one of our best rides and were well in the lead. We stopped at
Kaput Springs along El Dorado Canyon for Willy to drink. When Willy finished drinking he took a
step back and the trail collapsed out from under us, sending us over backwards down the steep
canyon. Patti was coming up the hill behinds us and watched the scene in horror. Willy and I
separated before hitting the ground, Willy rolled over my leg and we began separate tumbles
down the canyon. I went about 50 feet before my head smacked into a tree stopping my tumble
(so much for the new helmet but worth every penny), but the sound of Willy continuing his
crashing tumble fas down the canyon is something I'll not soon forget. I tried to find Willy but the
pain in my leg forced me to stop. Patti took control of the situation and sent the other rider,
Niema Chaves, ahead for help. Patti was quick to analyze my plight and was very aware of my
pain, she knew that if I went into shock we'd be in an even worse predicament. Patti then made a
very difficult decision, to save me, and packed me out on her horse, Ribbons Of Steele. Willy was
left behind, his condition unknown, lost and alone, yet not forgotten. Ribbons remained very
patient and steady with my injured leg slung over his neck during that long walk out and even
calmly navigated around two very stubborn rattlesnakes. I was then handed over to Dean Hall,
who delivered me to the hospital around 11:00 pm. I had a minor crack in the bone and massive
soft tissue injuries on my lower leg. While I as being treated, Patti was busy planning for Willy's
rescue.
I was delivered to the home of Gary and Judy Hall at Michigan Bluff the next morning, the staging
area for the rescue. It was truly amazing to watch the incredible people of this small community
pull together to try and save Willy. Judy Hall stayed with me and made sure I was comfortable.
The rest of the volunteers set out to search. Willy was located at about 11:00 am, approximately
7600 feet down the canyon! The volunteers determined that Willy was salvageable, no broken
bones or internal bleeding. They gave up all their water to Willy and a few of the guys ran up and
down the canyon to get him more. The crew cut a path and tried to get Willy to walk out, he
wouldn't have anything to do with it. At that point it was determined that a helicopter was needed.
The Sheriff and Animal Control showed, the U.S. Forest Service had a ranger on scene, UC Davis
showed up with a crew and a new harness and Helimax Aviation was on stand-by. The local vet,
Virgil Traynor, DVM, and a small crew from UC Davis were sent to the rescue site to tranquilize
Willy and hook up the harness.
Willy was hooked up and flown to the China Wall trail head. The day was not over for the
volunteers, they packed out all my tack and had a long ride back in the dark. Most of us spent the
night at the Hall's. The next day we stopped at the clinic on the way back to Patti's to have a vet
look at Willy. Other than a lot of missing skin and every inch of his body being sore, nothing
major was found. Two days later, my wife arrived to take us both back home. I had to see my
doctor and do many weeks of therapy for the lumps in my leg. As Willy's soreness started to
dissipate we noticed he was off on his left rear. Our vet determined that Willy had torn a ligament
in his hip but felt it was not serious. I was told to massage him daily and for my lightweight wife to
begin riding him in two weeks. Our vet, a well-used endurance vet in the PS, ordered me to do the
BVS 50 mile ride on September 27th as our comeback ride, he said we both needed to get over
it. But this is a tough ride! He said, "see you there"!
In the meantime, the huge bills started rolling in. For some that had heard of the ordeal it
became a "Free Willy" or "Fly Will" campaign for our miracle horse. Willy's previous owner, her
daughter Laurie Ridgeway and countless people from my work were sending money to Helimax.
Also, there were complete strangers from the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) Forum that did the
same. In all, they paid for more than half of the helicopter bill. Folks really are amazing!
I entered the BVS ride, but I was nervous despite the fact that Willy seemed fully recovered. If was
a really tough ride, yet very exciting. On the last 10 miles I could tell Willy seemed a little tired,
but we had paired up with Marci Cunningham and Willy was perfectly content riding with her horse.
Marci is local to the area and was very familiar with the trail, she lifted my spirits and we had a
very good time finishing that ride.
Yes, we missed Tevis 2003, but we'll do our best to try again. Due to a deal that Gary Hall tricked
me into, I volunteered an entire week a Tevis 2003 and I made many new friends. Willy is truly a
miracle and a gift. He has the heart necessary for endurance and I look forward to many more
miles, with old and new friends, with my new partner, Willy, the flying horse.
Three years later in 2006, Don Bowen and Willy conquer the Tevis trail.
In Don's words, "At the finish all the vets looked at the horse that should have been dead let
alone be at the Tevis and finish. As we completed the vetting and started our victory lap the tears
began to form, for my partner, who was able to conquer the trail that tried to take him. A few
horse have fallen from the trail and perished. This is the story of one that survived, and
eventually finished, Tevis.
Written by Don Bowen
In March 2002, Kathy Rutsky gave us the gift of Wild West, aka Willy, to replace my mare that
died prematurely from a freak illness a few months earlier. Willy wasn't enjoying his show career
and Kathy wanted him in a good home with no chance of seeing the show ring again. I initially
resisted ridding Willy but my wife, Pam, finally prodded me into it and then she rekindled an old
dream I had, the Tevis. I spent many months riding and conditioning in the tough terrain right
outside our home.
We had purchased a 2003 breeding from Patti Bailey and needed to deliver our young mare to her
ranch in Garden Valley, CA. I was entered in the 2003 Tevis and wanted to ride some of the trail
while there and Patti graciously offered to show me as the trail runs along her area. I arrived on
May 28th and delivered the mare to Patti's breeding facility. Willy and I stayed at Patti's home.
The next day we went for a ride, from Cool to the Auburn fairground. On Friday, May 30th, we took
a break and went to the Expo in Sacramento where I found and purchased my first helmet. On
Saturday, May 31st, we went on another ride, we planned to start at Michigan Bluff and ride to
Deadwood.
That day Willy and I were having one of our best rides and were well in the lead. We stopped at
Kaput Springs along El Dorado Canyon for Willy to drink. When Willy finished drinking he took a
step back and the trail collapsed out from under us, sending us over backwards down the steep
canyon. Patti was coming up the hill behinds us and watched the scene in horror. Willy and I
separated before hitting the ground, Willy rolled over my leg and we began separate tumbles
down the canyon. I went about 50 feet before my head smacked into a tree stopping my tumble
(so much for the new helmet but worth every penny), but the sound of Willy continuing his
crashing tumble fas down the canyon is something I'll not soon forget. I tried to find Willy but the
pain in my leg forced me to stop. Patti took control of the situation and sent the other rider,
Niema Chaves, ahead for help. Patti was quick to analyze my plight and was very aware of my
pain, she knew that if I went into shock we'd be in an even worse predicament. Patti then made a
very difficult decision, to save me, and packed me out on her horse, Ribbons Of Steele. Willy was
left behind, his condition unknown, lost and alone, yet not forgotten. Ribbons remained very
patient and steady with my injured leg slung over his neck during that long walk out and even
calmly navigated around two very stubborn rattlesnakes. I was then handed over to Dean Hall,
who delivered me to the hospital around 11:00 pm. I had a minor crack in the bone and massive
soft tissue injuries on my lower leg. While I as being treated, Patti was busy planning for Willy's
rescue.
I was delivered to the home of Gary and Judy Hall at Michigan Bluff the next morning, the staging
area for the rescue. It was truly amazing to watch the incredible people of this small community
pull together to try and save Willy. Judy Hall stayed with me and made sure I was comfortable.
The rest of the volunteers set out to search. Willy was located at about 11:00 am, approximately
7600 feet down the canyon! The volunteers determined that Willy was salvageable, no broken
bones or internal bleeding. They gave up all their water to Willy and a few of the guys ran up and
down the canyon to get him more. The crew cut a path and tried to get Willy to walk out, he
wouldn't have anything to do with it. At that point it was determined that a helicopter was needed.
The Sheriff and Animal Control showed, the U.S. Forest Service had a ranger on scene, UC Davis
showed up with a crew and a new harness and Helimax Aviation was on stand-by. The local vet,
Virgil Traynor, DVM, and a small crew from UC Davis were sent to the rescue site to tranquilize
Willy and hook up the harness.
Willy was hooked up and flown to the China Wall trail head. The day was not over for the
volunteers, they packed out all my tack and had a long ride back in the dark. Most of us spent the
night at the Hall's. The next day we stopped at the clinic on the way back to Patti's to have a vet
look at Willy. Other than a lot of missing skin and every inch of his body being sore, nothing
major was found. Two days later, my wife arrived to take us both back home. I had to see my
doctor and do many weeks of therapy for the lumps in my leg. As Willy's soreness started to
dissipate we noticed he was off on his left rear. Our vet determined that Willy had torn a ligament
in his hip but felt it was not serious. I was told to massage him daily and for my lightweight wife to
begin riding him in two weeks. Our vet, a well-used endurance vet in the PS, ordered me to do the
BVS 50 mile ride on September 27th as our comeback ride, he said we both needed to get over
it. But this is a tough ride! He said, "see you there"!
In the meantime, the huge bills started rolling in. For some that had heard of the ordeal it
became a "Free Willy" or "Fly Will" campaign for our miracle horse. Willy's previous owner, her
daughter Laurie Ridgeway and countless people from my work were sending money to Helimax.
Also, there were complete strangers from the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) Forum that did the
same. In all, they paid for more than half of the helicopter bill. Folks really are amazing!
I entered the BVS ride, but I was nervous despite the fact that Willy seemed fully recovered. If was
a really tough ride, yet very exciting. On the last 10 miles I could tell Willy seemed a little tired,
but we had paired up with Marci Cunningham and Willy was perfectly content riding with her horse.
Marci is local to the area and was very familiar with the trail, she lifted my spirits and we had a
very good time finishing that ride.
Yes, we missed Tevis 2003, but we'll do our best to try again. Due to a deal that Gary Hall tricked
me into, I volunteered an entire week a Tevis 2003 and I made many new friends. Willy is truly a
miracle and a gift. He has the heart necessary for endurance and I look forward to many more
miles, with old and new friends, with my new partner, Willy, the flying horse.
Three years later in 2006, Don Bowen and Willy conquer the Tevis trail.
In Don's words, "At the finish all the vets looked at the horse that should have been dead let
alone be at the Tevis and finish. As we completed the vetting and started our victory lap the tears
began to form, for my partner, who was able to conquer the trail that tried to take him. A few
horse have fallen from the trail and perished. This is the story of one that survived, and
eventually finished, Tevis.
We met Don Bowen and Wild West Willy while we were filming the Virginia City 100 mile ride. He
shared with us an amazing story that was only partially covered in "Arabian Silk". I wanted you to
read about the whole story. Here it is.
shared with us an amazing story that was only partially covered in "Arabian Silk". I wanted you to
read about the whole story. Here it is.
Amazing Stories
| Christine Lazzarini, Producer/Camera and Andrew Twite, Sound Technician ready camera and mic to interview Don Bowen about Willy's rescue. |
| Dr. John Madigan from UC Davis Veternary Teaching Hospital and rescue team double check the harness during Willy's rescue. |
| Wild West Willy is now known as "Willy the Flying Horse". |
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