Re: RC: winning mentality was reply to Tom Ivers re: re FEI

[SandyDSA@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/31/00 2:26:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time, CMKSAGEHIL 
writes:

<< The only "losers" in this sport are the ones who aspire to levels for 
which they have not prepared, and who can far too easily do damage in the 
process.  This is not "feely good" philosophy--this is just plain old 
reality.  Any honestly-achieved level of fitness and accomplishment is a 
whole lot better than not having achieved anything at all. >>
Indeed - thank you Heidi. for our sweet stallion who was thought not to 
survive a cardiac infection two years ago, 25 miles last month was such a 
victory.  we won. He won. That was big stuff. He is sound, happy, and moving 
up. Will he ever do Tevis? probably not - he is 15 and we are being cautious 
with him. Does that make him a loser. Not by a longshot. How selfish for 
those who have only one, singular desire to belittle those who would for 
whatever reason have broader views of success and failure. My daughter who 
read this had a comment for these guys - "get a life!" I don't let her read 
much of this Inet stuff, but this is  a kid who lost her FIRST horse lats 
fall after having finished her for competition - her mare DIED 6 months after 
buying her. NOW she has taken her new mare and turned her into one heck of a 
contender. You will see this pair at Tevis in 2001! Is she a winner? She was 
a winner the day she picked up her chin form the floor and boarded her new 
mare, tears streaming down her face and got on with the business of ...life. 
THAT is a winner!
s