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Re: [RC] re: any horse can do 25, etc. - Barbara McCraryThis is exactly our experience when we first started offering a 30-miler along with Castle Rock 50. The attitude of some was, "I've got this great horse and we can WIN this race." People were coming to ride the 30 who had never conditioned for it. They were treating it as a nice way to spend the weekend, a marked trail, and a free place to camp. It was worrisome to us. I do believe people have learned a LOT since then and are taking sub-50 mile rides seriously now. And then, for those who have been around for some time, remember the various cowboy races that surfaced from time to time; flat out, hell-bent-for-leather for 25 miles, and prize money to boot. Horrible to think of..... Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cindy Collins" <ccollins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 9:28 AM Subject: [RC] re: any horse can do 25, etc. Just fyi-`When I say that any sound horse can do 25 miles, I am saying that physiologically, many of my friends who ride their horses regularly whether it be in dressage, eventing, trail riding, etc. could take their horses and walk, trot, (and canter a little) through a 25 mile ride within the 6 hour limit with no problems or harm to their horses. I am not talking about some "cowboy" pulling a fat horse, that hasn't been ridden in months, out of the pasture and "over and undering" the horse through a 25. One of the reason so many of us "old timers" detest 25 milers is because that's the type of behavior we believe 25 milers bring out in folks...it is because doing 25 miles is within the reach of almost any sound horse of any breed. There is something about bumping up the distance to 50 miles that becomes "endurance" and only a relatively few horses can go that distance. (Remember, we're around endurance horses constantly and we get a skewed view of horse flesh...our horses are exceptional at distance). So, some local yokel is less likely to try a 50, but may try a 25 miler on a whim with no education or preparation. Getting angry at folks for stating the truth is silly. But, most of our arguments here are just that! Cindy ============================================================ 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/ ============================================================ ============================================================ You don't have to be a 100-mile rider or a multi-day rider to be an endurance rider, but if you want to experience the finest challenges our sport has to offer, you need to do both of those. ~ Joe Long ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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