Re: Rabble Rousing

["superpat" <superpat@gateway.net>]

Right on, Angie. After reading those descriptions of races, I would not
trade our endurance experiences here for one over there no matter which
Sheik sponsored us for however much $$$. That's not why  I was attracted to
this sport. The major reason for me is that I love to ride my horse. I love
to ride my horse on wonderful footing (when we can find it) through a canopy
of trees with the sun dappled through the leaves above. I love to ride my
horse and listen to the sounds of nature. A bird calling, the sound of
rushing water or the trickle of a stream and the wind whispering through the
trees or rushing through a gully. When in the desert, I love to be able to
look in any direction and see the contrasting colors between the blue
horizon and the golden hills with deep red and brown outcroppings. To trot
along at an "all day" pace and chat or sing with my friends. To sit astride
my horse while she munches a quick bite of grass or to hop from her back to
offer sips of water from a cool stream or to scratch her neck while
encouraging her to drink from one of the barrels of water placed by ride
management, talking to her and loving the smell of her and the feel of her.
If I could give a child an experience to cherish for life, it would be one
such as this. How very sad if children are taught that the race is only for
the swift and rich and how cheated they will be never to have experienced
the peace and solitude of riding with only their horse as companion. But
then, perhaps we are talking about two different sports entirely with only
the horse as the common denominator. Something akin to bicycle riding and
motocross.
Pat Super

----- Original Message -----
From: Rides 2 Far <rides2far@juno.com>
To: <bobmorris@rmci.net>
Cc: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2000 10:42 AM
Subject: RC: Rabble Rousing


>
> >. We are >getting to
> >the point that riders want their crews to have access, for >assistance,
> >at>all times.
>
>
> How many of you read Dwight Hooten's description of the Children's
> championship rides in Dubai and agreed with him?  He made a big deal out
> of the fact that the kids are actually *safer* because they don't only
> have ONE sponsor like our juniors do, they have *several* following them
> within shouting distance from a vehicle...so if the kid is hurt, they can
> pick up the pieces immediately.
>
> As a person who's spent a lot of time sponsoring a junior, I thought this
> was dead wrong.  When I'm riding with a junior, we're very close to each
> other, and I can see how things are going with the kid's horse.  If she's
> having control problems I'll tell her to tuck him in behind my
> horse...thus *preventing* an accident.  If my daughter were galloping
> across the desert alone, the last thing I'd want is a car chasing the
> horse with people shouting out the windows.  And this is just the kid's
> safety we're talking about...what about the horse?
>
>  I think a sponsor on horseback has a much better idea how the junior's
> horse is holding out.  You can hear the breathing, look at the eye, let
> him take the lead and see if he suddenly drops back.  You can't do that
> from a chase car.  One look at a video of one of their races and I was
> totally turned off.  How could anybody concentrate on their horse with
> all those trucks tearing up the trail, putting dust and exhaust in the
> air, and generally destroying the atmosphere?
>
> I think the sheik needs to build a nice mountain course.  They said he's
> already built one mountain, so a few more shouldn't be any trouble.
> It'll need LOTS of rocks, and I'd be happy to get the contract to supply
> them.  Our Longstreet trail has plenty for both of us. :-)
>
> Angie
>
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