Looking Down on LD?

["Webmaster" <webmaster@endurancehorses.com>]

In response to post by L.D. Rider,

I think what is at issue here is not so much the requirement for LD riders
to present a horse when it has met the HR criteria, but, that the LD rider
in question felt that their accomplishment(s) were somewhat undervalued by
endurance riders as a group.  I don't understand this mindset because I have
always been under the impression that we participate in this sport for
personal fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment for ourselves and our
horse.  When I complete an endurance ride with a sound horse I realize that
all of the conditioning work that I have done between rides has paid off.

The LD rider expressed concerns that they felt they were being singled out
as a group, whereas, the endurance riders were not.  That somehow it was
unfair that they had to present a horse that met the 60 HR criteria or face
a time penalty.  The structure of a LD is technically different than an
endurance ride; you don't finish until your horse meets the HR criteria.  Of
course you were being singled out, you were riding under a different set of
rules.

I was also surprised that any offense could be taken regarding the comments
about moving up to endurance rides.  Nothing was said at the ride meeting
regarding moving up to endurance that isn't already the common sentiment of
the AERC and the bulk of its members.  As an organization we have chosen to
recognize the value of sanctioning, even embracing, LD because it is a
value-added component of our sport.  The inclusion of LD in our sport serves
many useful purposes and that is why it exists today.  However, our sport is
endurance riding and that has to be the focus of our organization as a
whole.

The complaints regarding pulling tack at a 30 minute hold and being left
with only 10 minutes for the horse to rest and eat completely contradict the
statements made in the second to last paragraph.  This LD rider views
themselves as, "...foremost a horsemen and will always strive to do what is
in the best interest of any horse that is under my care."  This horsemen,
who was at the time striving to do what was best for the horse, complains
that, "... my horse only had a ten minute break with me not bothering her
before we had to be out!"  The best interests of the horse were not foremost
to this horsemen.  If the horse needed more time at the vet hold the LD
rider had every right to stay longer.  My guess is that finishing the LD was
what was foremost to this horsemen.

Hope you can appreciate the feedback.

Salim


-----Original Message-----
From:	guest@endurance.net [mailto:guest@endurance.net]
Sent:	Monday, April 10, 2000 4:03 PM
To:	ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject:	RC:  "Deadman" Endurance Ride

L.D. Rider LDRNotTrailTrash@aol.com
I wanted to get some feedback from the LD riders that participated in the
ride this past weekend.  The general feeling in basecamp after the ride
meeting was not good.  The Ride Managers attitude towards the LD riders I
felt was condescending at best.  The E mail he sent out prior to the race
had me concerned enough that I called and spoke to Kathleen at A.E.R.C. who
then had me call Veneta (Spelling?) Bowers and discuss things with her.  The
ride managers paragraph in the E mail he sent out prior to the race inferred
that if the LD riders did not know how to take a pulse that they needed to
buy a stethoscope or a heart monitor and that anyone who didn't was going to
be penalized in some form. Those of us who read E mail know that sentences
in all caps are a form of yelling.  The Ride manager then made his feelings
more then known at the ride meeting with his comments about how "LD riders
moving up to 50's".  What is this attitude? Aren't all our goals the
same......do our bes!
t and most importantly do the best thing for our horses? All riders are not
50 mile riders, all horses are not 50 mile horses, this elitist attitude is
ridiculous!  I only paid $10.00 less then the 50 mile riders, does this make
it ok for management to have made us feel like second class citizens?  What
was this with the 30 mile riders being made to pull tack on our 30 minute
break?  I have NEVER heard of anything like this. By having us do that my
horse only had a ten minute break with me not bothering her before we had to
be out!  If the Ride Manager did not want us there, why did he even offer a
30 mile ride? This was the first time I was made to feel like trail trash by
the management of a ride.

The ride itself was wonderful, the scenery spectacular, the trail absolutely
wonderfully marked, but sadly to say it was spoiled by Managements demeaning
attitude toward the LD riders.  Many riders came up to me and voiced their
shock, dismay, outrage, and hurt feelings over this.

We need to unify and let A.E.R.C. know our feelings LD riders pay the same
dues, it would be nice to feel like they want us.  Management needs to know
our feelings.  Most importantly, fellow horsemen need to appreciate every
rider who is out there and who takes the time and effort to condition and
compete with their horse!

I appreciate your feedback.  I consider myself first and foremost a horsemen
and will always strive to do what is in the best interest of any horse that
is under my care.

I love this sport and would love to see a change of attitude towards the LD
riders!



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