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Endurance always was a little different than all
the other equine competitions in the fact that "To finish is to win" where all
the others were "be the best" if you want to get that trophy or through-6th
place ribbon. I always thought it was so cool that everyone was treated as an
equal for finishing a ride and got a buckle,and the first place horse and BC got
an extra ribbon on top of the buckle. I've done both sides of the coin, having
shown Western Pleasure and Equitation making it up to State level, and I've done
Endurance. For me, Endurance was so much harder and not dependant on what a
judge thought, etc. When I finished my ride, I felt it was an extreme
accomplishment. It has been stated that the Tevis is equivalent to winning a
three-day event. Hats off to anyone who can do that!
Having had a 30-year break from the sport in
between 16 and 44 years of age, I was shocked to find out T-shirts and bungie
cords were the norm for a completion award now. I just finished reading my dad's
old Sharon Saare "how-to" book and came across the page showing a sampling of
completion awards and they were all buckles except for one which was a plaque
and I recognized all of them since my dad rode in all of them.
And please let me state very seriously, I am NOT
complaining about the cost of the entry fee or what you get for it. I would
gladly get no free lunch or whatever else there is (not having ridden a ride yet
in this century, I don't what what else there is), in exchange for the
opportunity to buy my own completion award if one were offered. The RMs work way
too hard for me to ask them, in this day and age, to cough up a belt buckle at
the prices they are asking for entry fees. And a second hats off to every RM
that ever was. Without you I don't ride. Be right back ...
*****
...ok, decided to do a little research just for my
own information and decided to share. My mom had organization down to a science.
Went to my dad's endurance box file and arbitrarilly pulled out the year 1978. A
sampling of entry fees produced $45, $50, $56, $70 for the 50-milers I
looked at and all gave silver buckles. I can imagine that in those days there
were no frills and that's ALL you got LOL! I even found one (The Tar Spring 50)
that was $50 for a completion award of a Big D nylon cooler and $35 for a
completion certificate only and get this, for the 25-miler (didn't even know
they had 25's then) $40 for a Comstock German Silver buckle and $30 for a
completion certificate only. No buckle for the 50 but one for the 25. Go figure.
So I guess my idea has been done before, I just didn't know it! The Bonanza
Ox-Trail 102 was $85 for a buckle and $45 for a completion
certificate.
I don't know what these entry fees equate into
given the rise in the cost of living in between 1978 and 2002 but I surely know
that even $50 was a mighty amount of money in 1978!
And again, please forgive me if anyone thinks I'm
on a high-horse or anything. I'm a Capricorn and subject to debating with myself
all the time (which my family thinks is funny) and I am always researching and
looking at both sides. I will ride my rides and
be happy with what I get, regardless of what it is. It is not why I choose to
get back into a sport (any sport, I've been tied to my computer chair for the
past 15 years). I chose endurance because I have experience in the conditioning
end of it and have been to many a ride as crew, just didn't get to ride the
ride. I am totally excited about going on my first in two weeks and I will
cherich my coffee mug forever! I'll probably have a clear plastic cube made for
it to go in so my rampaging cats don't break it LOL!!!
Ok, I'm done. You guys are probably all saying
"durn newbie ... hopefully she'll shut up soon ....." Besides, I like the
Braveheart and Chickenshit stories much better than my rambling ...
:) Jackie
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 1:55
PM
Subject: [RC] Endurance Awards
I Have yet to be in a
endurance ride. This will be my 1st
year.
I did not realize that anybody got
anything, except the winners.
I thought it would be just like any
other competition.
Horse shows, barrel racing, ex.
And I will be tickled pink to
be given ANYTHING.
Barrel racers wait sometimes 6 hours to
ride. They do not get a free lunch. And their fees are at least $35.00 to
ride
for 8 to what 20 seconds? They to
train their horses, as we
do. And travel far. I would expect to pay extra
for any Tee
Shirt or anything I would receive.
IMHO
Diane & Brazz
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