50 Years of Madness: An Updated History of Ride & Tie Championships

Fifty years ago, in 1971, Bud Johns, then a public relations director for Levi Straus & Company, sought a rough and tumble event to promote the company’s line of rugged outdoor clothing. Little did he know that his idea of turning an historic means of transportation into a race would beget a sport that changed the lives of the thousands of people who competed.Bud’s idea for a ride & tie race began after he had read several accounts from the 1800s and early 1900s in this country and in Europe, where two men had only one horse between them and needed to cover some distance. They opted to trade off riding and walking or running, in order to optimize their ability to go the distance, as well as that of the horse. One would ride the horse ahead to an agreed upon distance and then tie the horse to a tree or post and continue on foot. The other would reach the now-rested horse, mount up, and continue on to reach and pass the other man and repeat the process. In this manner, the two people and one horse eventually reached their destination quicker and in better shape than if they had both ridden the horse, or one or both walked or ran the entire distance.The first Levi’s Ride & Tie race in St. Helena, California, 1971 became an annual event that spawned hundreds of Ride & Tie competitions around the United States as well as in other countries. Considered one of the original challenging and grueling extreme sports, Ride & Tie continues today as the Annual World Championship Ride & Tie and numerous local events around the country.The first compilation of race results, posters, photos, and anecdotes was published for the 40th anniversary of Ride & Tie, ten years ago. In 2020, the sport celebrates its 50th anniversary.* This updated edition contains additional stories, photos, race results, and updated statistics to reflect the continued popularity of the sport among the bold and adventurous runners and equestrians who dare to try it and become hooked. Ride & Tie is a race like no other, where people of all ages and backgrounds and gender are pitted against themselves and each other as they tackle challenges they never thought they could endure. The passion invoked by the sport is reflected in the stories and photos throughout this book. Learn more about the sport and the Ride and Tie Association at www.rideandtie.org.The Ride and Tie Association and the ride & tie community at large is grateful for the generous support of Godfrey Sullivan over the years, and for making it possible for us to provide a copy of his updated 50th Anniversary edition to all participants in the 2020 World Championship 50th Anniversary event at Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Weott, California.*Note: The global Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the 50th Anniversary Championship event in 2020, and again in 2021. The big celebration is now planned for summer 2022. Read more