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RE: Re: [RC] Dr Ribley and BC's for LD's - heidiI love your post! It's Peggy from California who spoke with you, at length, about this issue at the Owyhee ride. Thanks for posting, Peggy, and thanks again for taking the time to let me pick your brains at Owyhee. You put it so well! I have ridden many LD miles, by choice this year, in 4 different regions, and I have to say that what I observed, while riding these miles, with this particular group of riders, was a very caring and fun-loving group of people out to have fun on a "limited distance ride" (I don't remember overhearing anyone talking about an LD ride should be considered "endurance" - I personally don't believe that either - it is a completely different category of competition within the AERC). There were some who were obviously out to "win", but what I saw mostly good looking horses at the end - nothing whipped and exhausted. I don't remember ever seeing any horses getting treated at the end. That has by and large been my experience as well. There is always the occasional "yahoo" but they don't tend to stick around. And I've yet to hear in a REAL ride camp anyone wanting LD to be endurance, either--only on e-lists, and usually only the same few over and over. Nor do I find put-downs of LD riders common at rides--I've heard a few, but over the years, I'd wager that I could count them on my fingers and still have enough fingers left to pick up a cookie. The few opportunities I had to show for BC were really great! It was refreshing to be given an opportunity to truly show off my horse, that I had worked hard to ride to the best of his ability, and to have the possibility of the coveted BC, which I would be very proud to have on our record! In sponsoring a novice junior rider this year, I also found that her opportunities to show for BC were very educational, and helped her to learn more about how her horse was doing and how to better care for her horse. My one disappointment is that AERC no longer has the triplicate sheets for each horse--this was SUCH a valuable educational tool, when the vets took advantage of it to make notes for the riders and to point out exactly where the horse lost points. I know many riders who took those home and filed them for future reference. Wherever this BC for LD thing goes, in terms of the way it is judged, it must be STANDARDIZED so EVERYONE has an opportunity to compete for an award that is such a feather in one's cap. Right now we have regional awards for LD BC, and these are great horses who win them, but this award is not a representation of a TRUE champion, as not all LD horses in have the opportunity to show. If your goal for the year is to win the BC for LD award, it is silly that you have to look for rides that offer you an opportunity to show for BC, not to mention, expensive, if you end up having to travel to other regions to collect your points. I think that's really unfair. I agree. Here in the NW, it IS pretty standardized--and it is the AERC form. There may be rides that don't use it--but if so, I've never been to them. I've certainly judged a pile of them over the years. It is neither an odious task from the vet's standpoint, nor has it promoted racing. I also believe that having a BC for LD helps to promote "smart riding" by the competitors. I do, too. I rode with Dot Wiggins at the Owyhee ride and enjoyed hearing stories from her riding career - I watched her win BC for LD, and her horse looked so great and she was so proud. It felt good riding with someone from the "old school" and hearing that they understand how this sport has evolved and are in total support of rewarding riders for good horse management, no matter what the distance! And riders like Dot do a lot to help set the tone on LD rides. She is savvy, steady, and takes care of her horse. And yes, sometimes she Top Tens. Imagine that... Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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