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Re: [RC] [RC] RideCamp -LDs. - Barbara McCraryThis is a hard one to pin down, but I'll try. First, endurance is defined in our by-laws as 50 miles or greater. Second, while I agree that 25 miles requires more endurance of 99% of people who ever got on a horse, we are not, or should not, compare what we are doing against 99% of people who ever got on a horse. We are comparing ourselves against ourselves. Does this make sense, or am I wording it poorly? I once rode a completely unconditioned horse on a 50 miler, in the days when endurance was new and I was uneducated about endurance riding. I did not finish, but I did reach 45 miles and ran out of time. I truly believe that anyone can take any horse and complete 25 miles in 6 hours. It's not wise, but I believe it can be done. Therefore, those extra miles it requires to complete what is defined as an "endurance ride" set that greater effort apart from the lower mileage by the extra effort it takes to condition a horse for 50 miles and the extra effort it takes to get the human body through 50 miles. I have no scorn for 25 mile rides; I'd love to do just 25-30 miles, because that's the limit of my comfort. I could finish 25 miles and not feel battered. But in order to achieve the completion of 50 miles, I have to put in that extra effort and endure that greater discomfort. To me, the thrill of having reached that goal is worth it. When I reach the point where I cannot tolerate the physical punishment of a 50 mile ride, I will then ride 25-30 mile rides and not feel one bit diminished by dropping to the lower mileage. I think I have already reached the point where I will not try riding 100 miles again. I'm not sure yet, but it would take a special event to lure me to try it....perhaps our own ride, Swanton Pacific. I know the trail intimately, and I would know exactly where I could make time, where I couldn't, what was coming next, and how to ride it to best advantage. And then again, I might just not be physically fit to do 100 miles, ever again. We'll see...... In the meanwhile, I think everyone ought to stop fretting about the mileage differences. We're supposed to be out on the trail having fun, working as a team with our favorite horse, not worrying about receiving recognition for our efforts. The personal sense of accomplishment should be enough to satisfy. Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kristen A Fisher" <kskf@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: "Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxx> Cc: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 9:27 PM Subject: Re: [RC] RideCamp -LDs. I think it's the implication that 25 miles isn't "real endurance" because 1) it is called "limited" distance and 2) is not in fact, as you pointed out in your other post, considered "endurance." When in actuality it requires less limits and more endurance than 99% of anyone who ever got on a horse. Kristen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxx>The odd part about this discussion is that I have heard for years how LD riders are considered second-class riders, but I'll be darned if I've ever actually heard anyone bad-mouth a LD rider to his face. Maybe it's just a factoid (meaning if misinformation is told often enough, it is accepted as the truth.) I've heard this story over and over, and I actually took a young horse to his first event - a LD ride. I surely never had the impression that anyone thought I was inferior because I did. Maybe wejustlike to keep the rumor mill going for the entertainment value? Barbara ============================================================ By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. ~ Confucius ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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