A good horse is a good horse regardless of
breed – I compete on American Paint Horses and they are just good horses!
Pam Bailie AERC # 30791
From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carolyn Burgess Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005
8:05 AM To: heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;
dodie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: [RC] Nov issue
Endurance News
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.
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