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Re: [RC] [RC] forwarded with permission....ld/BC - Dana B.Heidi wrote:
What do I think? I think that I didn't think of it much at all, other than not really understanding why our region didn't participate but was content to trust in the folks, highly revered by me, who were adamantly opposed to it, and I was willing to trust their judgement. The only effect it had on me was that I was theoretically disadvantaged for breed awards, where extra points are given for placings and BC, but it's not like I top 10 anyway. Then today, from these same folks I respect, I learn that if this rule passes the West will cease to offer LDs, which is just as well because LD riders are better off in NATRC and detrimental to the sport as a whole. Wow, talk about a punch to the gut.... I would love to be a ''real" endurance rider. My dream is to do Tevis. But like most everybody I struggle with demands of family, ailing parents, work and other responsibilities, including doing the best I can for the horses I have. I deal with my frustration in not being able to do "real" endurance by doing LDs when I can, most recently in the company of my 10yo son who absolutely has the time of his life. You have my every assurance that I would do 50s if I could, but recently I have had to deal with the realization that that may be later rather than sooner. I thought that I might be able to deal with that disapointment via the enjoyment I receive from LDs, perhaps for a long time. There is no other horse activity in which I have learned as much about horsemanship as I have while participating in AERC activities. So now I guess we lose that, and I'm not really sure why. The folks I know who ride their horses cruelly will do it whether or not an award is offered, or the names are in alphabetical order. They know if they were first, and they want those bragging rights. I know, because I know some of them and they ride in regions that give placings and BC awards. They couldn't care less about the BC, and they would race for first place if the BC was dropped. NATRC is another option for us, as is reining, show jumping, dressage and polo. But NATRC is not AERC, and suggesting that it is, is the equivalent of telling the poor sod who can only do 9 holes of golf that he is not a real golfer and should take up croquet. Well, he might not be a real golfer, and for sure he won't do the Masters, but he still enjoys those 9 holes and improves his game when he plays them. LD is not endurance, I'll be the first to admit. But in my short time doing LD I have learned things that friends who have had horses their whole lives didn't know. In my mind the educational mission of AERC is to create better horsemen because I felt it had that effect on me, but I lost sight of the fact that the goal is to develop endurance riders, preferably those who go 100 miles. I guess that makes sense, but I sure loved feeling a part of that dream, even if from the fringes. And it's going to be hard to explain to my friends who would never ever consider doing a 50, but who I have talked into do an LD or two this summer. Dana Baldwin, AERC#30836, West Region, 110 miles LD, 140 miles NATRC, pulled at mile 30 for tack rubs on her first 50, who feels like a ship without a port at the moment PS Heidi, congratulations on your 6,000 miles!!!! That is a wonderful accomplishment :-)) ddbpaso@xxxxxxxxx ************************************
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