Re: RC: Tevis - Slower riders

[Tivers@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/19/00 9:25:36 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
Trailrite@aol.com writes:

<<  You have no right to judge me on how I perform with my horse.  You didn't 
 win the Nat'l 1st place Pioneer Heavyweight Championship for last year, we 
 did, and you do have to know what your doing to win that.  It's not done in 
 just one 24 hour ride once a year!
 
 Tammy Robinson >>


Tammy,

It is unfortunate that you've blocked me from sending you email--forces me to 
broadcast this reply. 

First of all, as soon as you enter the arena of ideas, you subject yourself 
to the judgement of others--that's the price you have to pay for free 
expresson. In order to avoid most unwanted judgements, you might consider the 
"never complain, never explain" approach to discourse. 

But, in this case, you have complained, and now you're complaining 
again--about judgements that naturally flow from your original complaint. It 
is dangerous to cite wins as vaccination against criticism in horse 
endeavors, because virtually everyone knows that race winners can exhibit as 
much piss-poor horsemanship as the next guy.  

Second, the first rule of combat is "Hit 'em with overwhelming force". Tevis 
competiton, to the true competitors, is a polite form of combat. And 
overwhelming force in this case is ensuring that you've covered all the 
bases--a maximally fit horse, top notch support through the competition, all 
the details looked after, contingency plans for the inevitable miscues that 
occur in the "fog of battle". 

Third, when something comes up that there was no way to anticipate, and you 
lose the competition, you forgive yourself and go on to the next competition, 
glad that you're alive to fight again. And, when you have time to reflect, 
you think about "what if that happens again?" Generally, there is a solution 
that can be self-administered.

Fourth, sportsmanship is much like horsemanship--it's hard to define, but you 
know it when you see it. Or some do. 

ti

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