Fw: join in

["Whitney Bass" <bass@bigsky.net>]

> > > From: Whitney Bass <bass@bigsky.net>
> > > To: Darolyn Butler <darolyn@swbell.net>; ridecamp
> > <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> > > Subject: Re: join in
> > > Date: Tuesday, February 08, 2000 10:06 AM
> > > 
> > > Darolyn -- absolutely, the competitiveness of the rider is included
in
> > the skill of the team.  But why are you arguing, you only repeated what
I
> > said.  You said:  
> > > "yes, of course, the competitiveness of the rider is the deciding
> factor of where they're going to finish, ultimately"  -- that's all I
said.  And
> I understand about finishing 12th because that's all your horse can do
> > well, that day -- I'm not arguing anything about that.  All I said is
that,
> at a lot of rides,  the winner may not be, necessarily, the best team on
> that day.  That perhaps there are 2 or 3 teams that are just as prepared
and
> > > ready to win, and the major deciding factor between these teams is
the
> > > rider's desire for that win.   And I know all about endurance riding
> "way back when" -- not because I was involved, but because I'm
knowledgeable
> > (I read, and listen, and read, etc.).  I started endurance riding in
1986,
> > and I've seen it come a long way, even since then  (a lot for the good,
and
> > > some for the bad).   I just don't want to see some of the changes
that
> > are now happening -- so what?  I will probably always endurance ride --
> will probably continue to compete and do well -- you may even eventually
see
> > me in the Pan Am or even bigger.  But I doubt you'll see me win. 
That's
> all I'm saying.  
> > > 
> > > ----------
> > > > From: Darolyn Butler <darolyn@swbell.net>
> > > > To: bass@bigsky.net; ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>; Tom Ivers
> > > <Tivers@aol.com>
> > > > Subject: join in
> > > > Date: Monday, February 07, 2000 9:59 PM
> > > > 
> > > > Bass:  because the winner of most rides is determined ultimately by
> the
> > > > competitiveness of the rider, instead of the skill of the team, I
am
> > > > considering changing disciplines.
> > > > 
> > > > Response from Darolyn:   I'm nearing 20,000 miles, most of them
have
> > been
> > > > top ten, and I have probably won 30/40% of those.  So I find this
> > comment
> > > > quite interesting.  Yes of course, the competitiveness of the rider
> is
> > a
> > > > deciding factor of where they are going to finish ultimately, but
the
> > > skill
> > > > of the team has to include the "competitiveness" of the rider.  
> > Knowing
> > > > your horse, and training him to the ultimate level, then being
> > > competitive
> > > > enough to capitalize on his ability, your training techniques,
(which
> > > have
> > > > developed his potential), & finally the rider's skill, daring, &
yes,
> > > > "competitiveness" is what makes winners AND also finishers.
> > > > 
> > > > When I win a ride on a horse that is fit to do so, I feel I am
> putting
> > > him
> > > > at no more risk than when I finish 12th on a horse that has
maximized
> > > > himself that day for the 12th place finish.
> > > > 
> > > > Part of the skill involved is of course.... experience.  The longer
> one
> > > > rides and the more experiences one has on different horses, the
more
> > > capable
> > > > one is of judging a horses enate energy level.  Even then,
> > misjudgements
> > > > will happen.  They happen to me, not often, but more often than I
> would
> > > > like.  Then one stores that experience in the "ole memory bank" and
> > tries
> > > > not to repeat it.
> > > > 
> > > > I would have loved to have "won" the President's Cup.... but/and...

> I
> > > held
> > > > my horse back for nearly 40 miles to make sure he stayed at what I
> > > thought
> > > > his maximum speed was for the day, the speed that would safely
insure
> > his
> > > > ability to finish, but hopefully his maximum finish.... with
luck...
> > > maybe
> > > > even a win, or at least a top ten.   At 90 miles I knew I had made
> the
> > > right
> > > > decision, (yes... I continuely questioned myself, especially when I
> > > caught
> > > > the front runners momentarily at about 50 miles, then backed
off)...
> > > should
> > > > I have stayed with them????  That haunted me until 90 miles. 
Then...
> > > when I
> > > > started the last loop, I knew my horse was good, however, not
GREAT,
> > not
> > > > ready to run that loop in approximately 18 miles an hour (thru deep
> > > > sand--sandiest loop all day) as the eventual winner did.   But good
> > > enough
> > > > to maintain between 13-14 miles an hour, which was ever so slightly
> > over
> > > his
> > > > average for the whole race which was just below 13 mph.  (this is
all
> > > > figured from kilometers, so my numbers may be a tad off).   Good
> enough
> > > to
> > > > catch one rider, then the trail caught another (flipped in deep
> sand),
> > > and I
> > > > went from 6th to 4th.
> > > > 
> > > >        After all, the race is equally "against the trail" to coin
an
> > old
> > > > cliche' and that is what I had to concentrate on as much as what
the
> > > riders
> > > > were doing in front of me.  And, the really amazing part of that
race
> > is,
> > > I
> > > > had a great "FUN" time, the Whole Time!!!  What a game playing
relay
> > > baton
> > > > with bottled liters of water.  Just how fast can U make a pick up
> from
> > a
> > > > stationary person?  If the person runs along side will U spill
less? 
> > Is
> > > it
> > > > easier to pick up from the low quite Mercedes or the higher louder
> land
> > > > rover???   Can U hit the nearest vehicle with your empty bottle
(just
> > for
> > > > fun).... there were lots of targets... whoops, wind blew it
over.... 
> 
> > I
> > > > really think relaxing & having fun kept my horse the same way... he
> > > seemed
> > > > so happy most all the time.
> > > > 
> > > > Bass:  I've known all along  that endurance riding was to going to
> grow
> > > and
> > > > head in the direction it is  today -- just  because I don't want to
> see
> > > it,
> > > > doesn't make me ignorant or  superior.
> > > > 
> > > > Darolyn:    Whitney Honey.... not to sound like an old timer,
> but.....
> > > the
> > > > sport is really much "kinder/gentler" than it was 15 years ago...
> > before
> > > the
> > > > advent of the gate to the hold, when we use to just have straight
> > > holds....
> > > > horses came into the checks at a full gallop, thru tons of water,
> > barely
> > > got
> > > > the horses down in 28-29 minute time limit (72 pulse criteria) 
then
> > all
> > > > went roaring back out again in a huge clump.  Horses that may have
> > > recovered
> > > > in 5 minutes running right with the ones that took the full time to
> > > recover.
> > > > Sound at a walk (able to stand) and a 72 pulse was all the
finishing
> > > > criteria that was required in some cases... in some parts of the
US,
> > not
> > > > even that much.  That's when horses & ignorant riders got hurt.
> > > > 
> > > > Darolyn conti:  At a ride this year, 7 of us riders decided to
avoid
> > what
> > > we
> > > > thought was a dangerous finish situation and tie... the timer just
> > about
> > > > thru a fit, the R.M. got a tear in his eye, as he knew he was
looking
> > at
> > > > some fairly serious normally "cut throat" <gr> riders.... that
chose
> to
> > > ride
> > > > "kinder & gentler"... it was fun... really.  But that doesn't mean
I
> > aint
> > > ah
> > > > gonna race next week.... but maybe I won't ... depends on my goals
> for
> > > the
> > > > day & of course the most important thing... how does that horse
feel,
> &
> > > is
> > > > there a more important race next month or 4 months down the road
that
> I
> > > may
> > > > want to win even more than today.
> > > > 
> > > > Sorry... I digress greatly, but that is the whole point... no one
can
> > > > totally incapsulate the ultimate endurance ride strategy.  And once
> > > more..
> > > > from a look way back... even with all the fancy smancy vitamins,
> > > > electrolytes, carbo charge, heart monitors, tread mills, etc.  I
> > remember
> > > > some hellashas (sp) horses back in the early & mid 80's that ran
> times
> > on
> > > > tough courses that haven't been matched yet.  Much like the
> > > throughbred...
> > > > our new innovations may improve the overall health and the
machinery
> > > might
> > > > take a few miles off the training earth track, the heart monitor
> window
> > > what
> > > > we've just guessed at before... but I'm not really sure how much we
> can
> > > > truly increase the overall average speed on challenging courses. 
> It'll
> > > be
> > > > fun to watch... btw... Tom will U send me some of that GL to try. 
> <big
> > > > grin>... but I'm serious.  And thanks for the kind words.
> > > > 
> > > > additional BTW... I've used ABC Power Plus for 6 years or so....
> knock
> > on
> > > > wood... never had a tie up.
> > > > 
> > > > Now... all ya'll come race in hot, humid Texas for the ultimate
> > > challenge!!!
> > > > 
> > > >