Re: [RC] [AERC-Members] What newbies want to know/horse deaths - rrohwer Rohwer
Very well said Frank. As you witnessed with me at Fort Howes, some
days things just don't go right. My horse decided on the first loop to
throw a hissy fit, which you helped me with at one point in the ride. I
was wanting to quit after the first loop but because of a couple good friends
that told me to press on, I successfully finished the ride and the last to loops
were great because my good friend Picara was back with me working as a
team.
I have watched this horse learn what it is to be an endurance horse.
It took about 3 years for her to figure it out but when you see that
comprehension it is so cool. Was told at Fort Howes when I wanted to quit
that if I did it would be harder for me to go to the next ride. And that
if I did continue on when I finished the ride I would feel a greater sense of
accomplishment even if it took me the full 12 hours to complete. Guess
that is when I gathered up the endurance rider in me and pressed on to win the
day.
No you can't prepare for every possible problem you may encounter.
But you can press on and either make lemonade out of lemons or learn a new
lesson for the next time.
Subject: Re: [RC] [AERC-Members] What
newbies want to know/horse deaths
In a
message dated 6/18/2003 10:23:45 AM Mountain Daylight Time, bratcat91@xxxxxxxx writes:
In my experience there is no amount of reading material,
videos, convention lectures, etc. that can prepare riders to recognize every
possible problem they may encounter.
I've said before, I'll say it again, to
make endurance horses AND endurance riders, an endurance ride must be entered
and successfully completed. The things that horses and
riders learn during the haul, at basecamps, on the trails, at vet checks, etc.
just can not be duplicated on conditioning/training
rides. The best-conformed horses, if unable to deal with
all that going to endurance rides entails, will have to find another line of
work. Same for the riders who want to "do
endurance"....you just gotta go out there and find the endurance rider inside
you....it's there. It really is. And, if for some
reason, a rider discovers something that has yielded in an unsuccessful effort
ON THAT DAY, that's one of the things that goes into making an endurance
rider, or an endurance horse. Identify the problem, regroup all that
emotion, and press on. Endure. :^)
Frank
