I’ve been watching the Eco challenge
for a few years – fascinating!
It looks totally incredible.
There is usually horseback, mountain climbing, kayaking/canoeing/rafting,
mountain biking, more climbing, and sometimes rapelling
legs. I think there was ice
climbing one time. The horses have
always been provided by the country the event is held in. They are usually suited for the trip –
and some can be pretty hyper. The
horseback leg terrain is not typically difficult (at least as far as what they
show on tv, which is never
enough), so I think 20 miles is much tougher on the human than the horse, even
if pulled out of the backyard.
The horses are assigned randomly, so if a
complete novice gets a hard to handle horse, that’s the breaks. I can’t remember if it’s
always the case, since they always gloss over the horse leg unless there is an
accident, but not all team members had to ride in the last one in New Zealand. I think 2 of 4
members rode, the other 2 hiked a shorter
distance. Causes problems if only
one team member is a sufficient navigator!
Boy, if I could snap my fingers and be in
shape for something like that, I’d do it in a heartbeat. But in reality, I’d probably be
like the lady this year that was crying that she hates bikes and didn’t
want to continue!
-----Original Message-----
From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Maggie & David
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 9:39
AM
To: ridecamp
Subject: [RC] Eco Challenge-was
FEI perspective
Speaking of Eco Challenge......
One of my riding students announce
that her marathon runner husband wants to learn to ride. Seems there is an Eco
Challenge going to happen in Ohio in the fall. This one will include the usual
running, boating, swimming stuff, plus rollerblading, and HORSEBACK RIDING. A
twenty mile section of the course is to be ridden. Husband tells me race
organizers are providing the horses.
My question: Has anyone heard
anything else about this? Where are they getting the horses? Are they going to
be an animal that can 'go the distance'? or just a backyard pleasure horse that
may have problems getting 20 miles in?
Oh, and on the subject of doing it
for the fun of it......he tells me there is major sponsor giving out big bucks
for first. But husband is hoping fervently to finish without falling off of the
horse.
Maggie Pritchard--curious
Foxy--teaching another rookie to
ride
