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Heidi:

 

I compete on a big, Standardbred gelding.  He has 4 - 50's under his belt, one of his best finishes was at Fairhill last year in the 50.  When all the Arabs were failing because of the cold, damp weather, my little powerhouse raced to the finish.  My hundred mile prospect is also, a Standardbred.  My guy has never done an LD, did CTR's then jumped straight into 50's.  I tried to do endurance on my Arab, he wasn't very good.  Wouldn't take care of himself, which is a much more important trait, available in any breed.  And I will write a letter to the editor, once I actually receive my November Endurance News and can read the article.

 

Carolyn Burgess

heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> > If anyone read this November issue, please think about writing a
>  letter to the editor about the LD article. Although I know they meant no harm, it leads one to believe that you're only good enough for LD's unless you buy an Arabian. That is not how I'd like people to percieve moving up from LD's to 50 END's. So I wrote a very nice article, asking the editor to check out the mileage on several Appaloosas, Thoroughbreds and TWHBEA's I know of running 50's thru 100's. I also mentioned in my letter that I bring 2-3 new people to the AERC membership and sanctioned rides each year and none of them compete on an Arabian yet they grow into the sport to compete 50's with no problems. Several of these people have Top 10 horses. I have nothing against Arabians, but over the years, a lot of people that would have tried the sport turned away because they were told they couldn't do it if they didn't ride an Arabian.
>
> Dodie, I read that article, and sure didn't get the same "take" on it
> that you did. So after reading your post, I went back and re-read
>  the
> article, and I think perhaps you've misread the author's intent. The
> author gives two "scenarios"--a "bad" scenario which is apt to drive
> riders away from the sport and a "good" scenario that is apt to keep
> riders in the sport. In the "bad" scenario she does exactly what you
> are saying--suggests that the newbie is driven away because she has
> been told that she can't do endurance with her non-Arabian. This is
> clearly not the author's viewpoint, as she goes on in the "good"
> scenario to show the rider with the non-Arabian finding a good mentor,
> doing some "fun" rides and LDs on her non-Arabian, and eventually doing
> her first 50 on her non-Arabian, even though she has purchased an older
> Arabian as well. 
>
> I think the author could have made her "good" scenario a lot more clear
> by not introducing the notion that the rider had also purchased an
> Arabian, but her point is still that in the "good" scenario the rider
> IS encouraged to ride her
>  non-Arabian, is mentored, and finds
> success--and therefore stays in the sport.
>
> Your point is well-taken, but the author is trying to make the same
> point that you are--she just did it a little bit awkwardly.
>
> Heidi 
>
>
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