Juli, I have to totally agree with this post.
(although I don't "endurance ride" ) my VERY BEST RIDE on one of my mares was at
a show in 2001 (?) and it was a large class (over 25 entrants in the ring
at the same time). My horse was awesome. She was listening to me,
she did everything I asked for perfectly, it was like we were one finely tuned
machine. Guess what? We didn't place. When I asked the judge
later what I could have don't differently he said that I caused a
wreck and blew up the horse in front of me and that was why he didn't "use
me"....apparently the judge had gotten me confused with another rider who
was also wearing black on a sorrel horse. At that time I only
had my entry number on one side of my horse and it couldn't be seen from the
other side. The rider he confused me with also had her number on the other
side of the horse. Lesson learned, I always have my entry number on BOTH
side of my horse or on my back now. But although I was upset that I didn't
place in that class, it was most definately my best ride and one that I will
never forget. Another was up in the high county on a scary ledge with
rocks and loose shale...but I will leave that for another time!
Most of the recent posts are about awards, receiving
recognition, whether people feel welcome. Maybe it is time we talked
about personal rewards that are a little less transitory. The best ride of my
life was a ride I did not complete. Why? Because on that one occasion I
knew I rode my horse better than I had ever ridden a horse before. It was
thirty years ago. I have never duplicated it. On only two occasions in
40 years of endurance riding have I felt totally in harmony with a
horse---they were brief, but memorable. I was alone both times. And I
soared. Believe me, I would trade every award I have ever won before I would
give up even one of the memories of those three events. So maybe we, as
riders, should change our perspective a bit and quit worrying about who got
the best tee shirt. Regardless of the distance ridden, our sport offers far greater
rewards. Julie
