Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I have no disagreement with what you are saying, Liv -- about appealing 
to people for trail riding and limited distance. Yet I still feel that 
trail riding is not going to first attract people to the breed as much 
as family fun events at shows. Of course, people who hear about CTR and 
limited distance riding love it and in a perfect world it would be nice 
if this did become a big focus of Arabian owners (why do you think I 
promote my Arabians in this field--- because I want them to go to homes 
that use them on the trails-- something they love).
I just feel that from a business standpoint and as a way to make the 
breed flourish we need to reach NEW people--- we can introduce the 
versatility of the breed and the wonderful nature of our friends through 
a revised show forum--- something that people who think they might like 
to see what the Arabian is like, might go to. I'm trying to think of 
ways to attract NON-horse people--- new blood into the field--- and 
those people will not be on the trails--- they don't have a horse yet--- 
yet they might go to a show--- a spectator sport as they would a movie.
After the introduction to the Arabian, hopefully they will discover all 
the areas that the horse excels in-- especially trail riding.
I've ridden horses since I could walk and have owned several breeds--- 
what made me choose the Arabian as my first horse as an adult? I went to 
a symphony benefit at David Murdocks (yes, Ventura Farms-- Dole 
Pineapple himself) and he brought out his Aristocrat Polish mares and 
his pure white stallion Bandos--- took my breath away and I said to Mark 
"I want one of those!" And so it began....
Bette

Lif Strand wrote:

> At 11:36 PM 6/17/2004, Bette Lamore wrote:
>
> > And not all of us Arabian owners have 100 mile fannies and are into 
> > 100 milers yet want to demonstrate the athleticism of our horses. 
> > You're wrong, Lif, if it's an Arabian sponsored event, you have to 
> > ride an arabian (at least part) and some of us like the look and 
> > temperament of the Arabian and the family bonding of the breed-- 
> > that's why we would go to Arabian shows and not other breeds.
>
>
> Bette, I'm not arguing with you at all on your point.  But can you 
> demonstrate that the small niche of showing you're talking about is 
> enough to pull AHA out of it's bind?  Is there argument that the 
> Arabian horse can excel over other breeds in the areas of jumping, 
> dressage and sporthorse showing, enough to attract the thousands of 
> new owners and support a failing market for the breed?  There will 
> always be showing of Arabian horses, all the classes, of course, and 
> Arabians are versatile as you say, and can do so much.  But that just 
> doesn't seem to be helping promote and market the breed any more.  
> It's a new day, calls for a different approach.
>
> > New folks aren't going to be attracted to the breed by endurance--- 
> > very few have the dedication to devote hours and hours into conditioning
>
>
> Hours and hours into conditioning for endurance must be compared to 
> the hours and hours of training for showing, of course.  You don't 
> just take a horse from stall to show arena any more than you take a 
> horse from pasture to endurance trail.
>
> >  and fewer yet have the desire to push the limits of their horses and 
> > themselves to the extremes that some do.
>
>
> You're right - and that's why I used the term "distance" initially in 
> my letter to AHA and AHW, rather than the specialty term "endurance" - 
> although of course at the end I do use "endurance".  The beauty of 
> distance riding is that it takes place out of an arena, it doesn't 
> require extra equipment, long hours into conditioning or specialized 
> training or entry fees if you don't want to go that route.  Distance 
> riding is only as extreme as the individual chooses.
>
> > There is a far better chance of people being drawn to the breed by 
> > seeing them in a show than there is seeing them on the Tevis.
>
>
> That's another argument in *favor* of distance riding!  Distance 
> riding isn't a spectator sport, it's a sport that *engages* the 
> individual or family.  No longer does the supportive family have to 
> sit in the bleachers, or, worse, at a big show, pay for tickets just 
> to watch their rider.  With distance riding the whole family can ride 
> together, or if they're into it, part of the family rides, part crews 
> - and the crew is right there in the center of the action PLUS they 
> get to watch the rest of the "endurance show" for free!
>
> > Kind of like Pop Warner football-- the way it USED to be (before 
> > over-zealous adults got into it) as opposed to the NFL-- few people 
> > qualify for that and Liv-- you and many on this chat room are part of 
> > that elite-- but don't expect most neophytes in the breed to follow 
> > in your footsteps.
>
>
> Hah!  I hardly consider myself to be part of any elite with respect to 
> endurance, but I do expect most neophytes to follow the exact same 
> sort of footsteps I go in - to have a wonderful relationship with 
> horses on beautiful trails and meet great people who, even though 
> they're on the same trail with you, aren't trying to knock you down 
> and in fact will help you achieve your goals just as they are trying 
> to achieve yours.    What NFL player would help a rookie player from 
> an opposite team?  You know in endurance that happens all the time!
>
> The wonderful part about endurance is that all you don't have to 
> compete to the NFL level, you can play Pop Warner football forever, 
> and you *still* are a winner.  In fact, with endurance, every time you 
> hop on your horse you are having a great time, and you can get 
> involved with practically all the benefits endurance has to offer - 
> healthy bodies and minds, wonderful relationships with your horse, 
> enjoyment of trails and the outdoors, *free* mentors and 
> training/conditioning advice - without ever even having to enter an 
> endurance ride!
>
> >  Many have jobs that don't allow it even if they had the dedication 
> > and some of us just like to hack around on our buddies--- a 4 hour 
> > ride at the beach is just fine.
>
>
> And that, my friend, is exactly what the AHA should be promoting about 
> Arabian horses!  A 4 hour ride on the beach IS distance riding for 
> many people!
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>    Lif Strand      fasterhorses.com
>            Quemado NM USA

--
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians
Home of Bunny and 16.2h TLA Halynov
who lives on through his legacy Hal's Riverdance!
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com

Always remember: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." (George Carlin)



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