Ridecamp: Re: [RC] LD

Jim, I think you have everything just right.  As for giving awards to LD
riders, as I recall that's why it was started...the members wanted it.  But,
I think you're right...that giving national awards for LD does not encourage
riders to move up to longer distances.
My beliefs are as follows:
    1) Less than 50 miles is not endurance (by definition).
    2) LD rides are great fun; I love 'em, but I don't expect or demand
equal recognition with the 50s and 100s.
    3) LDs are great venues for introducing new, young, inexperienced horses
and/or riders to the sport.
    4) I am not in favor of national awards for LD.
    5) I support the idea of the following minimum horse ages for
competition:  5 years old for LD, 6 years for             50s, 7 years for
100s.
For what it may be worth......

Barbara McCrary

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Holland" <lanconn@xxxxxxx>
To: "Ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: [RC] LD


> Let's think about that for a second. I don't consider LD riders to be
> "second class citizens", but it is kinda like being on the "Junior
> Varsity" squad.<grin>
>
> I fully support the LD program in Endurance, although I agree with Roger
> that  National Awards for this are relatively meaningless...at least to
> me...IMHO, just too much inconsistency between regions.  (The riders
> that have won them probably disagree) <grin>
>
>
> IMHO, the LD program serves several very useful purposes.
>
> - It gets new riders into Endurance.
>
> - It allows people to "be" Endurance Riders without a big learning
> curve. (In their eyes anyway, which is OK)
>
> - It allows old timers like me to look forward to doing 25's when I
> can't do the longer distances anymore.
>
> - It contributes significantly to the coffers of the Ride Managers and
> keeps the cost of rides down.
>
> - Some riders like to start new horses at this distance. (I don't, but
> that's a personal preference)
>
> - It's an ego trip for some people...to race their horses cross country
> and "win" at LD.  Because of this group, I strongly support raising the
> LD age to 5. I suppose we could instead change the rules to say that you
> can ride LD's at age 4, but can't win any awards...all you get is
> completion, but IMHO, that would needlessly complicate the issue. As to
> raising the age for Endurance to 6, I think that should also be
> considered.  The Old Dominion has been won by a 5 year old. PERSONALLY,
> I would never ask any 5 year old of mine to compete at that level...but
> that's just me...I care too much about the welfare of my horse to even
> try something like that...especially at a ride like OD. IMHO, you're
> courting disaster.
>
> It's interesting when you talk to other riders about "Endurance". A lot
> of folks don't quite get it. When I mentioned it to my new neighbor
> several years ago, she said "Oh, I used to do that". Further discussion
> disclosed that she had done two LD rides. I have people who ride only
> Competititive Trail or "Wagon Trains" tell me that they are "Endurance
> Riders".
>
> Just from observation over the years, it seems that lots of people don't
> move up to 50's not because their horse can't do that distance, but
> because they can't.  (Or aren't willing to do the homework) The jump
> between LD to 50 is as significant to them as the jump from 50's to
> 100's. It's "easier" to just do 25's, the awards are there, so why do
> it?  It's the apathy thing....the path of least resistance....if there
> is no motivation to do so, then they won't. It's sorta like fad
> diets...everyone KNOWS they don't work...but because of the promise of
> losing weight without having work at it, exercise, or change your
> lifestyle, then take the easiest path. In reality, I think that we are
> not helping our sport grow by giving awards to LD...it may actually
> deter people from moving up.  However, if that's what the membership
> wants, I have no problem with that. JMO...no offense intended. However,
> I have also noticed that if you can ever get them to TRY a 50, and they
> are successful, usually they don't ever want to go back! :)
>
> Ain't that right, Penny? <grin>
>
> Jim (Still Trying to Get Sunny to 100's), Sunny (My 75 didn't count?),
> and Magic (What's an Endurance Ride?)
>
>
>
> Renee Gonzalez wrote:
> >
> > Lets just face it. The reason we feel like second class citizens when
doing
> > an LD is because we *ARE* second class citizens!
> >
> > (calm down--*that was a joke*)
> >
> > I've done far more LD's than I have 50's and have never once felt as
though
> > I was being treated like a second class citizen. I do feel like its a
> > common courtesy to let a 50 vet ahead of me if I'm just waiting for a
> > completion check and they still have another loop to do.
> >
> > Renee
> >
> > <<At 07:05 PM 06/24/2002 +0000, you wrote:
> > >Courtney Giardina courtney_mae1@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > >hello all
> > >
> > >I really understand where you feel that LD riders have become second
class
> > >citezens. I have done about
> > >
> > >9 LD rides because of my older mare's lameness. Now that I have a new
> > >horse, I can't wait to finally get to
> > >
> > >50's where others (vets and ride managers) will finally acknowledge me
and
> > >my horse how they should have before.
> > >
> > >I am not saying that all vets and ride managers are like that, but I
have
> > >only done one 50 and it was a very different
> > >
> > >ride.  No matter what distance you do,  riders and horses should be
> > >treated the same on any distance ride.
> > >
> > >Happy Trails
> > >Courtney
> > >
> > >
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> --
> Richard T. "Jim" Holland
> Three Creeks Farm
> 175 Hells Hollow Drive
> Blue Ridge, GA 30513
> (706) 258-2830
> FAX (706) 632-1271
>
> The Fall Pig is September 21st, 2002
>
>
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