Ridecamp: Re: [RC] the way we win/redefining endurance

Scott, I absolutely could not have put it more succinctly had I tried all
day.  I was thinking exactly the same thing!  I personally am not
competitive enough, or perhaps too scared to push my horse that hard, to try
to win.  But to take that goal away from people whose horses are fit to run
that fast, and who love to win, is a mistake in my opinion.  If we don't
have that goal, I think the sport would die.  Let's face it, humans are
competitive animals and we need goals to push us hard enough to learn and
excel.  If we didn't have competition, we would all be at the same level, in
endurance riding, any other sport or even business.  Your last two sentences
say it ALL.  Education and peer judgment are probably the answers.  As we
learn, we will less likely make avoidable mistakes, and having our peers
looking on and criticizing should help control some of the more aggressively
unwise riders.

Barbara


----- Original Message -----
From: <FASTGraphic@xxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2002 8:36 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] the way we win/redefining endurance


> This sounds like a fun, challenging, and rewarding sport - but it is not
the
> sport we know today as "Endurance."  As a newbie, I personally do not
race,
> but then I had a wonderful mentor and counselor in Tammy Robinson of
> Trail-Rite.  My goal this first year is to finish every ride I start with
a
> healthy, happy and sound horse.  BUT, I do recognize that speed is part of
> the equation as the sport is - and has traditionally - been structured.
To
> finish is to win.  But to finish in the "top-ten" is to be in the true
thick
> of the competition.  For now - and until my horse lets me know otherwise,
> I'll take the personal accomplishment of finishing.  Top Ten?  Perhaps
> someday.  When and if my Solitaire's personal best puts her there!  There
> will always be those who abuse their horses.  Restructuring the sport to
> these lower common denominators is, IMHO, not the answer.  One cannot
> legislate intelligence!
> Scott
>
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws 
 Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=