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Re: [RC] AHA Trail Ride - don't think I'll go... - Jon . LindermanI know that I went to my first ride w/fear and trepidation & would have loved an opportunity to go to a non-competitive setting like this. Like MK-S said we are doing a similar thing here in OH & our club is gung to help. After years of showing arabians we had preconcieved notions, heard "stories" about endurance, etc, and what I found was a bunch of really nice people who were more than happy to help out. The learning curve for distance sports is so much different than for other equine sports and certainly no one agrees about the "right" approach, but at least being in a setting where you can ask about things like I didn't know about, (like how to make a sponge & when/how do you use the darn thing!) can really help out. I've learned alot in our first 1,000 miles of competition not always the easy way & God knows we don't know it all yet. What a great opportunity to get together & exchange ideas, help people out. Do I think every piece of advice that'll be handed out will be exactly correct........no. Heck what was right for my horse 2 years ago seems to be changing each year as he dreams up new ways to befuddle me. I got so much help that 1st year that I got really involved the past year or 2........down side is that now I get asked to help and complain I don't get to compete enough. I'll be helping at our regional event, and get this, my horse isn't even registerable w/AHA...............I figure I am helping the sport & frankly if it helps the sport I don't really care if it is an arab of proper breeding or some misconception found in a back field somewhere. if you can have fun in the sport, fine by me. In fact I was musing this weekend w/a friend of mine how much fun we had just riding this weekend. yes we both love to compete, but its about the relationship w/the horse for us & a ribbon, plaque, t-shirt, jacket or porcelain doo-dad doesn't enhance the relationship. If attending and supporting these things has some small impact on providing info to people to find alternative ways to enjoy horses then I am allllll for it. Jon K. Linderman, Ph.D., FACSM Assistant Professor of Health and Sport Science University of Dayton
My boss just brought in her latest Arabian Horse Magazine, and while browsing it I saw an ad for the first annual AHA Trail Ride. It's located within driving distance (albeit a long haul) from me at Fort Robinson Nebraska, which is a place I've always wanted to ride. So I contemplated going - all meals served, the chance to meet Sheila Varian, fun horseback games, riding near buffalo etc. I'm not into group trail rides but this one sounded like an exception. THEN I read the trail etiquette page and what I saw reminded me why I don't want to ride in a group that isn't comprised of distance riders. It says: "When watering along the trail don't allow your horse to 'guzzle' water; they should only be allowed small amounts at each watering hole", and "After he is cooled out, give him small amounts of water until he is satisfied. Practice the same routine with feed. Digestion requires blood, and if the horse is fatigued, he needs the blood to replenish his system. Too many demands upon his system may give him colic. Start with a small amount of feed, with the major feeding later that evening.". Gawd, I hope they really do mean FEED and not HAY in regard to this directive. There's no mention of how to feed hay at all, so who knows.... OK - this is not my ball of wax. Guess I'll stick to plain horse camping and distance events...Kristi iluvdez at yahoo dot com Life's a journey, so enjoy the ride (and try not to fall off) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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