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Re: [RC] re: 100 milers...speed vs. tradition - tprevattSteph, My point in piping up is that I do feel that there are some that would like to see FEI separated from AERC, and it worries me. We are a small sport, a small community of riders with more similarities than differences. And at the 100 mile level, the differences are even fewer. I honestly haven't seen any data or stats to back up the claims that the faster rides are harder on horses. Foolish riders are hard on horses, and one can be just as foolish on a tough mountain course as on a flat desert course. And regardless of the course, or the venue, every rider can choose their speed. We had almost as many riders do the AN 100 in the 12-16 hour range, as in the 8-10 hour range. And a high completion rate with no metabolic pulls. And the scenery isn't all that bad either. (do I sound defensive :) Just please don't try to drive away, or separate, the riders that are following International trends, or just trying to be the best in their sport by one standard - some of you might have been doing the same thing 10 or 20 years ago. We change - but the sport really isn't changing that much. It's always been a 'finish sport' for some, and a 'race' for others. Even traditionally. It's a bit of an odd sport we have, where even though it is a timed event, and we are rewarded with top tens, first to finish prizes, extra points for going faster than others - it is a stigma to call it a race, and stating 'to win is to win' would be near heresy... It's as if the collective conscience of the sport is afraid that if we call it a race people will get stupid and feel that they 'have to' race. Just ride, do what you like, protect our horses, and be tolerant of others with different goals. None of this was an issue or a problem until the requirement for FEI sanctioning spring on the scene. People from the US have been doing international for quite a while long before we needed FEI sanctioned rides in the US for them to become "capable." The first year of cosanctioning didn't come off very well in some people's mind and from what I could see the FEI portion of the rides were a bit overbearing at the first few. That's left a bad taste which has lead to what you observe above. I think there are a lot of reasons. The disciplines of eventing and dressage are European in their origin. So the more formal European flavor is not a big deal. However, formal distance riding started for this country in the late 1800 in New England in the cavalry trials which lead to competitive trail riding and the 3 day 100. Later endurance was born in CA. Endurance is clearly American which has been adopted by the Europeans. I think that leads to some of the rub. Secondly there is a divergence between "race and ride" which has been beat to death. If all is going to coexist in the same framework it will take compromise. Both sides will have to be willing to step up to the plate and compromise. Since the international scene is smaller it will be odd man out if it is not willing to listen to the criticism. On the other hand we will all lose if somehow "international is split off." Right now I don't see a whole lot of willingness to compromise. That is the sad part. Steph (I'll ride any horse, at any speed, on any trail, and enjoy it just as much either way. But those few times where the horse, the trail, the day, the luck, all converged with a 'first to finish' have been very very special.) I've come in first and I've come in dead last and all I can say is what Kipling said, "... If you can meet with triumph and distaster .. And treat those two impostors just the same...'' First or last wll quickly fade - what is important is having a sound horse to go down the trail with you year after year. After all "to finish IS to win." Truman =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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