Ridecamp: [RC] laura toston and her riders

>I think that one > of the> reasons I got soured on pleasure classes as a
teen was the fact that 
> so many> of the kids I competed against had that "win at all costs"
mentality 

Lisa,

My daughter started competing here in the SE 2 years ago and I've
completely had to revamp my scheduling.  I can't plan to go to a ride any
more until my daughter checks to see where her buddies are going.  When
we get to the ride the juniors who are our "competition" usually run up
to the trailer before we unhitch asking "Where's Josie?".  We don't see
much of them.  She is pretty good about taking care of her own horse.
It's me who has to hold myself back to make sure I don't do everything
while she's out running around.  

I think we moms who sponsor our kids develop an empathy for each other. 
It's not easy to put your own goals on the back burner and be a good
sponsor, but I can honestly say I *really* like all the moms/sponsors we
compete with.  Funny thing at Pyramid this year though. The moms broke
loose.  Sandy Thomson rode her junior's horse and got BC.  Suzanne Solis,
who had to put her own riding on the back burner when her own horse
developed problems and her son had taken over her back up horse suddenly
had a horse to ride. Seems she sent her son to spend the summer in
Nicaragua with his father's family...and my daughter got pulled so I was
free to ride my horse's race.  We had fun accusing each other of
sabataging our juniors to get to ride.  I really gave Suzanne a hard time
about deporting her son just to get her mare back. >g<

One thing ride managers have done which helps is that they tend to give
all our finishing juniors a prize of some sort.  The GERA gives top 10
junior points awards at the end of the season now (which pretty much
covered every member junior who completed a ride).  It's nice when none
of them get left out.  I think they understand that some kids just have
slower sponsors.  Also, kids seem to understand a little better being
attached to a certain horse...who may not be fast, but they love it
anyway.  Can't wait to go to Hahira this year.  You've never seen kids
having so much fun climbing up and down a haystack. :-)

Angie

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