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Re: [RC] Education - Dana B.
I have to agree with Kim. The resouces are there if you take the trouble to look for them and use them. I am an avid reader and researcher, but I have to say that the most wonderful resource for me has been the riders and vets themselves. I "met" an endurance rider through a discussion on this list who has become my good friend and mentor. Everytime I go to a ride I meet other riders and vets who are more than willing to to bend over backwards to help a new rider. I can't think of a person on this list who wouldn't help or find help for someone needing it to the best of their ability. There's always talk about whether or not a horse is suited for the sport. My own personal view is that endurance is and will always be a hazardous sport for both horse and rider. It is absolutely imperative that the rider recognize that and do whatever it takes to educate themselves to take care of their horse. I think maybe riders that need to be spoonfed are the ones not suitable for this sport. I did my first LD a year and a half ago. I've done three more since then, along with some NATRC rides. But even given my limited time and exposure, I have made some wonderful and supportive friends who do not hesitate to help and advise. I'm not a particularly social person (I can approach horses way more easily than people) but all I had to do was ask, and there's always been someone there to help. For instance, last week I asked for help regarding a horse we were looking at for my son. Within a day I had half-a-dozen endurance folks helping me, and as a result we are going today to look at a much more suitable horse. Without the support of these people, most of whom I haven't even met, I might have made a huge mistake. Plus, I have the added benefit getting to meet some wonderful new folks because of this. :-) My friends who aren't in endurance were absolutely flabbergasted at the indispensible help and information I received. Endurance folks are the greatest. Hopefully some day I'll be one of them, after I've done my homework :-) Dana in No Cal ddbpaso@xxxxxxxxx ************************************ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
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