Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

You said it right - and beautifully too!
Laney

Chris Paus wrote:
> And here's my last response!
>  
> It doesn't matter  whether you ride in ECTRA, UMECRA, NATRC, MOTDRA or 
> AERC. Horsemanship is a big part of success or failure at distance 
> riding, or should I say, longterm success or failure. Anyone can have a 
> few great rides, but having great rides year after year, takes 
> horsemanship, which encompasses a lot of things!
>  
> Yup. NATRC is the only org that scores you on horsemanship, but that 
> doesn't matter. When your horse's condition is being judged in the other 
> CTR groups, or when a vet looks over your horse in AERC to determine if 
> it is fit to continue, your horsemanship is there... on your horse. The 
> horse reflects what you have done to him or for him or with him.
>  
> It's not about CTR versus endurance. Both sports are great and I 
> participate in both. It's about learning how to rate the horse, how to 
> teach the horse to take care of himself, learning not to override the 
> horse on any particular day.
>  
> When you've done this for awhile, you'll understand. I'll never be a top 
> tenner, (well I have a couple of times, but by luck, LOL) But I know 
> every footfall my horse makes. I know every breath he takes and every 
> heartbeat, with or without a HRM. I am very in tune with him. When we 
> have a great ride, it is because I've used the horsemanship skills I've 
> learned in this sport and i've listened to my horse and ridden him 
> according to what he had to give THAT DAY. A couple of times, it meant 
> pulling because it wasn't in him that day. Some days it meant getting 
> the turtle award. And sometimes everything gels and we just cruise! It 
> means paying attention to him when he tells me we've gotten off trail 
> (yes, a good distance horse reads ribbons). It means listening to him 
> when he tells me he NEEDS to grab some grass or drink out of a puddle, 
> or go potty, or stop and take a deep breath at the top of a hill.
>  
> It means riding him efficiently and correctly so that he doesn't have to 
> worry about balancing himself and me. It means choosing the right tack  
> so he is comfortable. It means choosing the right groceries for him. It 
> means preparing him for the work I'm going to ask him to do. It means 
> teaching him how to behave at vet checks. It means learning to camp with 
> your horse.
>  
> THIS is horsemanship. Yes, it is very much a part of the sport, 
> whichever form you choose to do. The people who learn this, will ride 
> for years and enjoy distance riding a long time. The people who don't, 
> won't stick with it because they use up horses or decide it's too much 
> work and they find something with more immediate rewards.
>  
> I hope you'll try to understand this Sara. No one is  trying to make you 
> feel bad or argue for the sake of arguing. I think you sound like a 
> person who could be a real asset to the endurance community. Give 
> yourself time to learn. Be a sponge and soak up everything that you can. 
> That's also horsemanship.
>  
> Good luck and happy riding.
>  
> chris
>
> */Brian & Sara Minsk <ninemaplefarm@xxxxxxx>/* wrote:
>
>     Ok. This is the last time I am going to respond to this topic! LOL
>
>
>
> */I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship. 
> Louisa May Alcott/*
> ** 
> *Chris Paus*
> *BayRab Acres http://pages.prodigy.net/paus*
> *Lake Region SWA  http://lakeregionswa.fws1.com*
> ** 


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