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Re: [RC] What is Real Endurance!! - Jim HollandYou know, the current discussion on this topic is getting kinda boring, and somewhat out of context, so just to change "direction" a little, here's a little story about my first experience with "real" endurance. Back in the early '90's, I was crewing for my mentor. Her horse was not perfect by any means...conformation, recoveries, etc...but she knew her stuff and her knowledge and experience got a lot out of a little guy that most riders would have never got through a 50...but she...and I...consistently ran him in the Top Ten. For her, it was always about the horse. If you crewed for her, you NEVER heard her complain, it was always about what the HORSE needed and how HE was doing amd what HE needed. I didn't quite understand until after a particularly hard ride when, after the ride, she came in from looking after her horse, checking his feet, massaging his hindquarters, and checking him carefully down to the most minute detail, (she insisted on doing that personally) she asked if I would help her remove her tights. Her legs were so chafed and bloody, I had to wet them to get her tights off. "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. "It wasn't important." she said. She got up in the middle of the night to go recheck her horse. She expected a lot from him, and in turn, she gave HER all in return. Rode him on the edge for his ability, but never had a metabolic pull. She crewed for me riding that horse for part of a season. She NEVER wanted to hear how I was doing...simply didn't care. She expected me to look after myself...AFTER the horse. Her only concern was for the HORSE...and a screw up would get me a tongue lashing I didn't soon forget! She also liked the hard rides....and taught me how to succeed at them...and to love the challenge. I wish she could still compete...we need more riders with that mentality. Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic Teri wrote: Well Jim, some people just like to argue. If you say the sky is blue they will say it is pink. I agree with you wholeheartedly. The tougher the terrain the bigger the smile. Flat rides are borring to me. Teri =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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