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The Californios 100, the brainchild of Vern and
Marge Biehl, was instituted in 1997. On the tenth anniversary of this
ride let us take a moment to look at how this has developed over the
years through the hard work of these two people.
Back in 1981, before the Californios 100 came into
being, Marge hosted the Wild Flower Ride, and in 1982 she and Vern
hosted it together. Several years later this ride was renamed the
Precipitous Poppy Ride by friends Jeff and Chris Wall who hosted the
ride with Vern and Marge’s help. The Walls later hosted a 100 mile
Championship Ride. During this period the Biehls also hosted several
Wild Flower Ride-and-Tie competitions, and designed the course for the
1989 World Championship Ride-and-Tie at Frazier Park, California.
In
1997 the first Californios 100 mile ride was put on in honor of the
early California horsemen of the late 1700s and early 1800s who
routinely traveled 100 miles or more in a day over vast haciendas.
Today the Californios takes riders on a challenging course through the
beautiful scenery of the Pacific Crest Trail and the San Gabriel
Mountains. There is a 65 mile ride and a 30 mile ride on the same
day as the 100. Any of these rides provide excellent training for those
wishing to try the Western States Trail Ride (Tevis).
Vern and Marge have both been successful in their
own right as endurance riders and ride-and-tie athletes. Their most
memorable Levi’s Ride-and-Tie was the survival and 3rd place
man/woman finish at Foresthill, California in 1985. Vern was also a
marathon runner whose personal best was 2.48 hrs! Marge was an ultra
runner who successfully completed the Malibu 50 and the San Juan Trail
50. They still run an aid station for the Leona Valley Divide 50 mile
run.
Vern and Marge live in Kings Canyon in the
Antelope Valley, the home of Desert Pines Arabians, and began their life
together training horses for the endurance world. Many of the currently
successful horses on the circuit today have passed through their hands,
and their riders have learned, through Vern’s instruction, a whole new
way of communicating with their animals to achieve a higher standard of
horse mastership.
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They have a successful business at home making
equipment for the endurance rider such as specialized saddle pads,
halters, rope reins, horse blankets, custom tack and saddle repairs
under the name of Enduring Designs. Enquiries may be directed to their
email at
californios100@aol.com or telephone (661)724-1060.
Each summer, while temperatures in the valley soar
to three figures, Marge and Vern will pack up four of their horses and
head off to the High Sierras. They are both certified cross-cut sawyers
for the Forest Service and for several weeks every year they will move
from site to site volunteering their time to clear hiking and riding
trails – an activity which is close to their hearts.
In 2003 Vern met Tom Teckington, owner of the
beautiful Rancho Corona del Valle on Pine Canyon Road, who, as a result
of conversations and negotiations agreed that Vern and Marge could use
the ranch as a new base camp for the Californios rides and for their
clinics. This has indeed been a hugely popular venue and has since
attracted more events to be held there, such as NATRC competitions,
trail trials and triathlons. Thanks go to Vern and Marge for
precipitating these opportunities.
Back home Vern and Marge live with their Arabian
mares, Allie, Babe, Minnie, Roxy, Margaux, Rosie, Sara, Sunny and their
adopted gelding Charlie, some of whom have
been retired from the endurance world, and all of whom now provide the Biehls with transport since they have not owned a motorized vehicle for
over eight years. There will usually be a collection of horses in
training on their property, together with one or two horses that they
may take in to rehabilitate and rehome since horse welfare is another of
their interests.
They are busy people indeed. Do come and support
their rides and enjoy the opportunity of riding the beautiful trails
that they offer. We look forward to seeing you soon.
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