Re: RC: Just what is LD competition?

[Howard4567@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/21/01 2:35:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time,  
tprevatt@mindspring.com writes:

> For the life of me I cannot figure out the knee-jerk reaction LD seems to
> generate on RC. There are jerks in all distances. There are people that 
>abuse other riders and their horses in all distances. In over 10 years of 
riding,
>running and working rides I've only seen one LD horse treated which is 
>about 50 times fewer horses than I've seen treated at the endurance 
distances.  I 
>wish someone could explain what in LD invokes such an emotional reaction.

I haven't been around as long as Truman, but, like most things he posts, this 
seems to be "right on."  And the winning times for the 50, at least down 
here, are just as quick as doubling the winning times for the 25.

I love the 25's cause I know I don't have to worry about my horse getting 
into trouble as much as I do when we compete in the 50.  That IV experience 
was such a nightmare I'd seriously consider quitting the sport all together 
if I allow it to happen again.  Not even a saddle from the Prince of Morocco 
is worth risking reliving that experience.

I do believe the ride times are getting too fast in the winners circle.  I 
just don't know how folks do it.  Their training programs must be incredible. 
 I don't fault any of them, but when you can do a 50 mile endurance run in 
under 4 hours ride time; where do you go from there?  It boggles the mind.

I actually did feel guilty when my Paint won that 25 miler at Ponce.  Nobody 
was more surprised than I was.  And the first thing I checked was our ride 
time.  I was glad that it was close to 3 hours and realize that the only 
reason we won is cause it wasn't a crowded ride and the "speedsters" just 
were not there on this particular Saturday.  Total fluke and most likely 
never to be repeated.  I do remember thinking about that Cloud 9 pad, worth 
about 80 bucks, that I was going to win during the last 3 miles.  The ironic 
thing is, I never did get that pad.  The lady who makes them seems to have 
gone out of business.  Touch of irony, and, maybe, a lesson to be learned 
there.

The thing is, we don't need to overreact here because of one out of control 
rider in Malibu.  Her time will come (Karma) and, if she drives her car like 
she rides her horse, one of those Californians experiencing road rage will 
take her out someday.  I am amazed an endurance rider hasn't gotten in her 
face about it all.  I know quite a few riders, here in the South, who would 
do just that; myself included.

From what I've learned, by reading our rulebook lately, is AERC has left it 
to us to police ourselves in this area.  Calls that are considered 
"subjective" like the definition of trail etiquette and good sportsmanship 
are not spelled out in the rulebook, and they probably shouldn't be.  These 
are things that should already be understood, and when we come across 
individuals who don't understand them, it might be our job to explain it to 
them.  Delicately, of course.

cya,
Howard (your horse should be more important than winning a T-Shirt)