Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

  It's sometimes is hard from just stats on horse performance to decide who to take advice from.  Since the advent of Internet discussion lists lots of information is shared and you really do not know who is giving advice or what their experience level is in the sport.  Are you getting information from a "bench racer" or from someone that actually has the experience and expertise that you would respect.  It is only natural that one would want to check out the credentials and the easiest way to do that is to check out their racing/riding record.  As mentioned in previous posts, stats don't always tell the whole story.....someone who wins all the time might have a very talented horse, you know the "one in a million" we all wish we owned.  This rider might not have a clue as to what or how they are accomplishing great feats and do not know it is "the horse" until they start their second or third endurance horse and realize that they are not able to reach the same goals.  There are riders out their that have horses who might have thousands of miles....an admirable accomplishment in this sport - right...but is it so admirable if the horse is sound in body and "brain dead"?  You know that look some of these horses have "like they are not really there"...eeking out another 500 miles during the ride season so their riders can brag about attaining high mileage milestones.  
     I think instead of talking about gold level horses we should discuss what makes a gold level rider.  To me, a gold level rider is able to take whatever horse they have to that horse's highest potential whether it be a winner or a middle of the pack horse.  They are willing to take the time to discover that horse's particular strengths and weaknesses.  They train to the horse's weakness' and they race to that horse's strengths.  They use race strategy before speed, make progress on the horse's timeline not on their timeline, and are able to keep their egos in check in the heat of competition.  Unfortunately, many times these are the riders that never make it to the limelight and you do not even know who they are unless you are riding with them season after season.  I am lucky enough to know several "gold medal riders" but most of you outside the PS region wouldn't even recognize their names.  Last week end, one of these riders finished Tevis towards the back of the pack.  A great accomplishment yes...but most of you have no idea how incredible it truly was.  Two or three years ago, this horse with a previous owner could barely finish a LD because he was crazy and out of control and dangerous.  This year he successfully completed one of the most technical and difficult races in the country. 
      The rider I want to get advice from is not the one who is riding "one in a million" because they have the means to be a clearing house for every horse that comes up for sale.  They stumbled upon "one in a million" after trying out 100 other prospects and sending them down the road because they didn't live up to expectations immediately.  I don't want my advice from someone "who got lucky" with their great horse or paid big bucks for their "made horse".  I seek advice from those riders who value the same ideals in endurance as I do regardless of how successful (or unsuccessful) they look in "the stats."  Decide what your goals/ideals are for this sport and find riders who emulate these in actions (how they ride/train/race) and not how they talk (or post to discussion lists).  You might be surprised that they are riding in your own back yard (region) and not "writing" on the list.