Re: Rider/horse training..was--I made a decision

["Maggie Mieske" <mmieske@netonecom.net>]

<Having come from the dressage area to the endurance area, the lack of
riding skills amongst many of the endurance riders was extremely evident>

I am sure that Sue is well meaning here with so many of her comments and
they are probably true about many endurance riders....but that is why I
ride endurance.  I am not interested in being critiqued every time I get in
the saddle.  I learn what I can and glean a lot from other riders, dressage
instructors, trainers, etc. but (and if this is an excuse, so be it) when I
have time for lessons, there isn't the money and when the money flow is
good, there's no time.  I would have to trailer at least an hour one way
and with gas expenses and paying for the lessons, it would run me around
$75 for a 45 minute lesson....so, I HAVE checked into it and I DO have the
desire...but the $75 would more than pay for a 50 mile entry fee and I
could get a lot of conditioning/ training time in during the 4 + hours or
so it would take me to load, trailer, have a lesson, load and trailer home
(forget visiting time!).  Perhaps some of us don't have any business being
out on the endurance trail but I think our riding "styles" as well as our
freedom for preferences of tack, breeds, etc. are what make endurance
appealing to the majority of riders.  There aren't any requirements in thos
regards.  Please don't discourage me or anyone else from riding endurance
because we don't "fit in" to what your concept of a "good" rider may be. 
I'm not as thin skinned as I used to be or some of the things you said
might very well have offended me (ok, maybe they did a teensy weensy
bit)...I do think you mean well.  I don't know if I am a good rider or not
to be honest with you... I am sure we could ALL improve in one way or
another.  I will never compete or show in any level of dressage, english or
western equitation...but I do strive to have a balanced seat (hey, I have
learned to post with my thighs!) and teach my horse to collect himself.  I
think I have good communication with my horse(s) (at other times it is
totally absent....ever have one of THOSE days?) and I rarely come off
anymore (unless my horse is practicing his sidepasses in an attempt to
avoid killer chipmunks).  Give us poor slobs a break... to each his own. 
:)  The joy IS in the journey...some of us just look better doing it than
others!  :)

Maggie Mieske
Mieske's Silver Lining
10601 S. Richards Rd.
McBain, Michigan 49657
http://www.netonecom.net/~mmieske
mmieske@netonecom.net

----------
> From: Sue Brown <sbrown@wamedes.com>
> To: ridecamp@endurance.net; superpat@gateway.net
> Subject: RC:  Rider/horse training..was--I made a decision
> Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 6:43 PM
> 
> >It's that old truth about the joy being the journey. 
> 
> That is the greatest mental concept that I can possible think of...and
one
> I try to live my life to!  It's a prominent bumper sticker on my van!!  
> 
> >But in all
> >honesty, I am saddened that so many people do not even appear to *want*
to
> >learn or to improve their training and riding skills. Some really do
seem to
> >think that if they can manage to hoist themselves into the saddle and
remain
> >upright most of the day until they cross the finish line, they have
> >accomplished much. No matter that they bounce around on the poor horse
like
> >a sack of potatoes. (poor horse). It is a testament to the strength and
> >patience of the horse that they manage to remain healthy and sound, for
the
> >most part, and some of these riders even manage to come up with a "best
> >condition" award now and then. Amazing! Imagine what these horses could
> >accomplish if only their owners would learn to ride.
> 
> 
> Having come from the dressage area to the endurance area, the lack of
> riding skills amongst many of the endurance riders was extremely evident.
> I am amazed at the number of riders I see slip into a chair seat with
their
> stirrups too long, their saddles too far forward, their cues often very
> wrong or totally absent...and their riding foundation from the Kick and
> Jerk School of Riding.  Riding a lot of miles will certainly help you
> acclimate to the movements of the horse, but it can very often be very
much
> out of balance and non-communicative.  If you are using *your* body
> incorrectly, the horse will be ALSO using his body incorrectly!!  Good
> riding is the only thing that will aid in the proper development of your
> horses muscles...poor riding will lead to horses that lean, develop
> underneck muscles instead of top-line muscles, don't come up under
> themselves correctly, don't bend correctly, and so on.  
> 
> I'm equally as amazed at finding people who have ridden for several
years,
> have developed a certain style of riding (with lots of errors), and have
> absolutely *NO* desire to improve -- riding with the "It's worked for me
> for years, why should I change?" philosophy...an attitude that I don't
have
> much respect for.  
> 
> Sue 
> 
> 
> 
> "If all you can do is what you've always 
> done, then all you can be is what you are right now."
>                               author unknown
> 
> sbrown@wamedes.com
> Tyee Farm
> Marysville, Wa.
> 
> 
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