Ridecamp: Re: [RC] laura toston and her riders

> Good.  I'd hoped that this was an isolated issue.  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 and
> seemed to be learning it from their parents and/or instructors.  Then of
> course 4H around here has become something of a joke--a lot of kids in the
> livestock classes (and their parents) expect the leaders to do all the
work,
> which is contrary to the goals of 4H, yet it continues because it is
> rewarded in the show ring.

<sigh>  Our local 4H is no different.  As to this being an isolated issue in
endurance--I believe it is, and that is one reason why people get so
exercised about it.  The vast majority of endurance riders strive to ride
intelligently, and when they fail, it is through not understanding or
noticing something, rather than through aggressiveness or rudeness.  Because
of the "finish is to win" concept, a great many endurance riders never race
at all, but instead ride to complete or to acrue mileage.  Even though it is
a timed event, all finishers receive recognition, so the win or the Top Ten
isn't the be-all and the end-all as it is in sports where the ribbons stop
there and the others just filled the class.

Heidi


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