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Re: [RC] LD's and 50 garbage - Barbara McCraryI would have been so grateful if LDs had been offered when I attempted my first 50 mile ride. It was a tough one, and I thought (without any knowledge whatsoever) that it should be a piece of cake. My horse was totally unconditioned, and we didn't have education programs or mentors in those days (1971). It took me 12 hours to do 45 miles, and my horse could have died of exhaustion that even the vet didn't recognize back then. I became bitter that I couldn't finish a 50-miler, and later, that I couldn't do better than dead last. I came very close to quitting the sport all together. Then I had a talk with myself....what did I REALLY want out of this sport? When I decided that I wanted to enjoy the scenery from the back of my horse and I didn't care where I finished, I kept on trying to learn and condition. Over the many years, I have won only two rides, and there were no bells ringing at either time. I was most happy about my two best conditions and an overall 5-day BC, but generally I just ride for fun. I thought primarily this is why we engage in this sport. There are folks to whom winning is a very important goal, and that's fine; it just doesn't happen to be mine. Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ridecamp Guest" <guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 9:01 AM Subject: [RC] LD's and 50 garbage Please Reply to: Lianne dcantrall105@xxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== All I can say, is the person who puts down LD's is blind. LD's are building blocks for some. I know I would not want to run a Marathon if I hadn't run a 1/2 Marathon before. There are new people who want to experience what endurance is all about. I think it would be stupid or funny to do a 50 if you or the horse had never experienced an endurace ride before. I had a friend who did it. She was sucked into believing that you are a sissy if you do a LD. Boy was she sorry. Hee, Hee , Hee. I did the 25 for my first ride and enjoyed every minute of it. I still ride endurance, she does not. There are people who do have disabilities who can ride LD's but can not go any further. There are some who ride LD's finish with an ejoyable day, sit down with their beer, and watch everyone else go back out , come back tired , hungry and wanting that chair and beer. To each his own. But I do believe LD's belong in our sport. Lianne Cantrall 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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