July 9, 2008 - After much deliberation and careful assessment, the Western States Trail Foundation Board of Governors regrets to announce the cancellation of the 2008 Tevis Cup Ride.
"It was a difficult decision," reports WSTF President Tom Christofk. "But after in-depth discussion today with the U.S. Forest Service, we have decided that any level of risk was not appropriate. The Forest Service has graciously offered us some options for re-routing around the now-closed Foresthill Road, but with that factor, coupled with current air quality issues and the on-going fire situation, we opted to make the conservative decision of cancelling the ride. Protecting the safety and health of the horses and people involved with this historic event takes precedence over everything else."
Further updates regarding this decision will be posted on the Tevis website later.
From The 2008 Tevis Crown Jewel Sponsor:
Sheikh Sultan bin Suhaim Al Thani, Crown Jewel Sponsor, said, "My prayers are with the many families facing these devastating fires in California. Cancelling the Tevis Cup for this year was a difficult but necessary decision to ensure the welfare of all the people and horses involved. I look forward to joining the riding community as the Tevis Cup sponsor in 2009."
