Re: RC: ...Ridecamp//"Successful" Endurance Riding

[DVeritas@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/20/00 9:05:57 AM Mountain Daylight Time, 
greymare@jps.net writes:

<< 13:  My favorite question:  How did so many of the early riders complete 
ride after ride without the
 HRM, custom electrolytes, improved tack and advanced endurance research?  
How did so many of you ride 100 miles in tennis shoes and english 
stirrups??!!!
  >>

Many of the early riders did do just that.
Many of the early riders did not.
I would love to see some completion statistics (number started/number 
finished) from...say 1980 (particularly for rides that are still going) and 
compare those completion statistics to say 2000.
    I think we would be surprised to see just how big a difference the 
techno-endurance gadgetry of today does or does not make a difference in 
COMPLETION rates.  It does (probably) make a difference in the SPEED in which 
those same rides are completed SAFELY.
    It seems to me, (and I could be wrong here, but...) that much of what we 
see in techno-endurance gadgetry these days (i.e., HRM's, altimeters to track 
total feet ascended/descended), etc.) can, at times, actually hinder in the 
successful campaigning of some endurance horses (time used tinkering on the 
trail rather than "feeling" and monitoring effort/cost ratios/efficacy.)  If 
the rider actually spent the TIME to get to really REALLY know a given horse 
and its particular idiosyncrasies of effort-expended and its relative cost 
(oxygen used, muscles used, recovery gaits/rates, etc.), THEN, the most 
efficient manner to get down the trail for that horse could be determined, 
used and maintained for some time.
    That said, I know there are many "successful" endurance riders out there 
that have the ability to manage their particular techno-endurance stuff and 
my opinions are in no way an attempt to diminsh their efforts or 
abilities...they're good at what they do.
     I have a hard time drinking from my water bottle without dropping it on 
the trail...but I'll work on that.
     Anyway, Karen, I love that question.
    Have a nice horsey day, weekend, Autumn,
             Frank.