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Re: [RC] start with LD or CTR? - heidiI'm starting my first season of competitive riding this year, and I'm wondering which would be best to start with: CTR rides, or LD rides. I do want to start at the lower milage and work my way up to a 50 mile at the end of the season. Depends on you, your horse, and the availability of a choice. Based on my experience volunteering, it seems the attitude of the CTR is more laidback - however, with the LD, I don't have to worry about matching a pre-set pace at all. If I feel I need to back off (or I need to let my horse out a bit), I can go at my own pace. Both good points--which is more important to you? Does your horse still need "Trail 101" and need the benefit of the more controlled pace to keep his wits about him? Then CTR is the obvious choice. If his natural pace does not conform to CTR, but he rates well for you, the LD is the better choice. Do YOU feel you need the structure of CTR for your own learning curve? That's another consideration. In the long run, I do want to do 50 mile endurance rides, but there are a few multi-day CTR rides in my area that I'm also interested in, so I'll be dipping my toes in both. In my area (GLDRA), most of the LD rides are on Sundays, so I have to consider that as well. If I do the 25 mile CTR on Saturday, I can stay overnight and let my horse rest before heading home. If I do the 25 mile LD on Sunday, I need to head home Sunday night. Most rides will be about a 3 hour trailer ride from home. Probably not an issue at that level. What would be the benefits/drawbacks of each approach? How did you guys start out? Sounds like you've pretty well summed them up already. The only thing you haven't addressed is whether you have a horse that needs the longer mileage right from the git-go to get his attention. I presume you don't think you do, since you've already put some thought into choosing to start with shorter distances. How did I start out? I did three 40-mile CTRs (no novice distance, not NATRC, average pace 6-7 mph--I've ridden several 50s slower!) only because that was the only game in town, so to speak. Then I went to endurance and did a 100 for my first ride. That was my "first career." Then with the onset of middle age and health issues that caused me not to ride for several years, I DID take advantage of LD to start back on my "second career." I don't think going that short a distance was the right thing for my horse, but it was the best thing for ME--I would have had a hard time dragging myself back out to do 50s under the circumstances without having the LDs for a stepping stone. Everyone has to deal with their own circumstances. Heidi ============================================================ We are talking about all the tools we can use to keep our horses safe and alive at the rides. Training/conditioning is one of the best tools available. It makes us better horseman and women, it benefits our horses and could quite possibly be the key to preventing most crashes. ~ Lisa Salas - The Odd Farm ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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