Re: RC: Re: LD and BC

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

I have to admit that my knowledge before I started riding endurance was
quite limited. I wasn't totally ignorant...I knew some about conditioning
(I spent the whole year and half the summer of the next before going to a
ride just conditioning) but I knew nothing of what to expect really.  At
first the two sets of rules (comp vs. endurance) really confused
me........can I sponge NOW?  That's why I gravitated to LD and endurance
(yes, I named them separately).  I can do just about whatever I need to do
for me and my horse.  However, I did several (and still will do) the comp
rides.  In fact, I am enjoying the 25s back to back and feel they will help
us hit our peak when/if we get to do a fifty this year.  I know there is a
lot of controversy over LDs (here we go again!) but as a rider, I must say
that it costs me much more money to do 2 25s than one 50 and I would
appreciate it if all the rides were judged the same.  As far as BC goes.  I
don't have any answers about stopping "racing" at LD rides.  Except for
pulse down finish times, they are basically the same as endurance rides
(rule wise), are they not?  But if I top ten and if I win a BC, I do care
if it counts to year end awards or points or whatever.  That doesn't make
me a bad person or someone who is endangering their horse.  LD has its
purpose in our sport.  I am not a "career" LD rider but I enjoy riding
them.....wish we had some 30-35 mile LD rides in Michigan but it's not so
here.  Anyway, just my 2 cents which isn't worth a plugged nickel anyway! 
:)


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

----------
> From: Deanna German <dgerman@earthlink.net>
> To: CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com; ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: RC:  RC: Re: LD and BC
> Date: Thursday, July 06, 2000 12:12 PM
> 
> >>No experience, no knowledge - but they ide like the wind and
> >> soemtimes win and think they are doing it right, on EVERY new horse
> they
> >>ride every season:). s
> 
> 
> CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com wrote:
> >So how does requiring participation on LD's do anything to change this
> attitude?
> 
> It doesn't unless you change the reward structure of LD rides to
> emphasize the horse's condition. Even if you don't change anything about
> LD, it also allows ride vets to evaluate a new rider's abilities over a
> distance less likely to severely compromise the health of the horse.
> 
> 
> >Next thing you know, we'll have mandatory crewing time, mandatory PR
> time,
> >mandatory classes and clinics in endurance...
> 
> Heidi, we're looking for ways to enable new riders to safely get
> involved in this sport and still have fun. You're taking a big leap from
> a suggestion that a rider complete a few shorter rides to a multitude of
> new restrictions that no one suggested. Surely you realize that your
> knowledge base is substantially different than all but a small
> percentage of newcomers to the sport. Surely you know that the vast
> majority of us do not ride range horses for whom an endurance ride is
> just another day of work. (Maybe things were different when you first
> got involved with the sport.) How many potential new riders today have
> your background and knowledge?
> 
> In an earlier post you said that you likely would have been turned off
> of the sport had you been required to do a few LD rides first. Hmmm...
> sounds like a requirement like this would be an endurance test of sorts
> for you. ;-)
> 
> 
> >To be honest--the information and help are out there, for any who are
> of a
> >mind to learn (and there are more folks like that in THIS sport than in
> just
> >about any other discipline I've been around), and there are tighter
> >veterinary controls than in any other sport to be advocates of the
> horses of
> >the folks who do NOT choose to learn and to self-monitor.  I don't
> think ANY
> >sort of educational "requirements" will change the nature of human
> >beings--some WILL learn and some will not.
> 
> The information is NOT easily and readily available even if folks want
> to learn. I think that people involved with the sport "forever" are just
> so accustomed to having the knowledge or at least knowing where to turn
> to get it, that they forget that for the newbie, it's often not the
> case. Case in point, my barn owner showed up at a local CTR (this is
> where I met her). She'd heard about endurance, but was the typical
> pleasure rider. She jokes about how she took a sponge for a ride her
> first competition because someone tossed it at her at the last minute
> and she hadn't a clue what to do with it. She has a desire to learn and
> understandably turned to her usual sources to learn more — local vets,
> farriers, tack shops, tried to find people she could learn from. If she
> wanted to barrel race, dressage or reining, there are plenty of people
> to learn from. Not so endurance. She's not big on reading — heck, with 3
> kids, who has time and isn't it more fun to spend time with your horse?
> Again, one doesn't learn any of the above mentioned equestrian
> disciplines out of a book. I don't think endurance is any different.
> Since she's in great physical condition, I have no doubt that she could
> do 50 milers. She wouldn't be able to get her horse through, though.
> 
> As much as the sport is growing, it still isn't mainstream. We're at a
> crossroads where we have a tremendous opportunity here. Let's be
> progressive and forward thinking and think about what we can do to help
> the typical pleasure rider interested in this sport do it safely. Those
> are the horses most at risk. If a few "range riders" are turned off of
> the sport should 25 milers ever be required ... well????
> 
> Deanna (admitted newbie, but one who is lucky enough to have lots of
> resources)
> 
> 
> 
> 
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