Re: RC: EN Sept issue

[RQuestarabians@aol.com]

Hi Maryben,
I also agree with some of your points in the September article of the EN. 
Although I have only done a mere (2) Limited Distance Rides in my Endurance 
career,  it just seems plain silly that endurance is  divided at all. You are 
right, we are all in the same sport. Many  50+  miler endurance riders will 
contest and say that Limited Distance is not endurance. Who is to say what 
endurance really is to someone or a particular horse? It is like saying that 
the Special Olympics is not truly the Olympics. We all know that nothing 
could be further than the truth.  Everybody has his or her own capabilities 
(limited or not). You or your horse may face limiting factors in their 
endurance career, and that may mean that it now  takes every ounce of effort 
just to go 25 miles. Believe me,  I know. Once, I badly  damaged the 
ligaments in my right ankle. This may sound stupid to some, but I was 
literally going crazy from months and months of not being able to ride 
Endurance. I was determined at all odds, despite my doctor's strict orders, 
to stay off of it, and rode a 30 miler  anyway. I tell you what, at that 
point in my life, that was all that I could do. It took all the endurance I 
had to go 30 miles. My sanity was curbed for the moment,  but this ride was 
much more physically challenging for me  unlike any 50, 65, or 80 miler I've 
ever done. 
 I haven't done Limited Distance since. For me the reasons are I  now have 
horses that can easily handle 50 mile + rides, and I can presently handle it. 
I will admit that in the past I have been in dilemma's with myself over the 
fact of should I just ride my green horse in the 25 miler and get no 
"endurance mileage credit," or just enter in the 50, and pull at lunch if I 
have any problems (since I am not technically getting endurance mileage 
credit anyway). As I look back, that is sad, we shouldn't have to feel this 
way. Endurance is endurance. Endurance has completely different meanings for 
everyone and every horse. Some horses are low maintenance and an absolute 
dream to ride in 100's, while other horse's for whatever reasons struggle to 
go 50 miles. We are all doing the same trails at our own individual paces 
whether we are entered in the 25, 50, 80, or 100 miles. I am sure that the 
high mileage endurance riders would agree that a few " limited distance " 
rides per year for the rider that normally does 50 miles+ is not going be a 
threat to their points or standings. So what is the problem? (Uh oh , did I 
just open up a big can of worms?)
P.S.
I also want to commend you on your article.  
Robyn Levash
 & Wiley Coyote
Remember us? We camped next to each other at the Bridgeport ride and your 
horse kept getting bored and untying himself. I think you and I were the only 
fools to ride 2 Greenies with only  (4 months under saddle) in such an 
incredibly hard, treacherous, but beautiful 50 miler. Hey I didn't know the 
ride wasn't particularly GREENIE horse friendly, did you? It was great!