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Re: [RC] Most Coveted Award - k s swigartSince it's very difficult for anyone in the East to even think about Pioneer awards (unless they are retired with infinite money), then that's not even on the list. I consider the Perfect Ten Award* (and most of the others on my list above....note that I have never even come close to even any of those) to be virtually out of my reach, but that doesn't mean that I don't covet them. Here I always thought that the things that are most treasured are SUPPOSED to be extremely difficult to attain. Although I guess I can understand the sentiment slightly. Since I am neither married, nor do I have children (nor am I the dependent child of other endurance riders), both the Husband & Wife Team Award and the Family Award are completely out of my reach and therefore didn't make my list. However, the reason that the Perfect Ten Award tops my list is not because I think I have any reasonable chance of ever winning it (although it is probably in closer reach than the National Hundred Mile Award), but rather because if I have this as my ultimate goal and am able to remind myself that such is the case when I am "in the heat of competition" at a ride, it is the most likely to keep me from doing something stupid with/to my horse. *For those of you who don't know what the Perfect Ten award is: "Perfect Ten (Equine Only): New for 1997, created and sponsored by Joe Long, past president, former SE director, and member of the Hall of Fame. Must have completed 10 years, 10,000 miles, 10 top ten finishes and 10 best conditions." And since this accomplishment (before it was an award) was first achieved by Joe Long with Kahill when he was riding in the SE and before he retired, it obviously isn't out of reach for somebody not on the west coast. It is an award that is won not by being deemed ahead of the other participants for the day, nor for being deemed ahead of the other participants for the year but rather for having successfully managed the horse over its entire career. I will continue to manage all my endurance horses as if that were the ultimate goal in mind, continue to sacrifice any other award I might be in contention for on any particular day or in any particular year if I think pursuing the "lesser" award (even the National 100 mile Award) might jeopardize the chances of my horse ever winning the Perfect Ten. Am I aware that I probably don't have the time, the money, or the horse to be able to actually achieve it? Yeah. But I will still pursue it, mostly because I consider it the most laudable journey, even if the ultimate goal is never achieved. kat Orange County, Calif. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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