 |
RE: [RC] LD/BC - heidiheidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:I would beg to differ with this comparison. The riders who felt that they didn't want to ride further due to age, infirmity, scheduling, or just plain druthers have been with us since the beginning.My turn to differ. You are trying to imply that there were a substantial number of non-beginners in these early rides. T'aint so. The short rides WERE called Novice Rides back in the 80's and that wasn't because they were chock full of experienced riders and horses who just wanted to scale back from the 50's and 100's. I was there, vetting those rides. And on the BoD when the name discussions were going on. And yes, Diane, there were numerous experienced riders riding them back then. And once again, it was because of that demographic fact that the name "Novice" clearly was not applicable. ...it was those very people who influenced the board (and rightly so, IMO) not to call it "Novice Distance" since most of them weren't novices. The very name "Limited Distance" came about precisely BECAUSE these riders have always been an active part of the scene on the rides of "limited" distance.While I am glad these rides aren't labeled "Novice" since they do indeed encompass a much broader range of ability than just beginners, nevertheless, I think you are confusing loud, vocal and persistent with large in numbers. Back then, there were MUCH fewer non-beginners than beginners at these rides. In MY opinion, the current status quo reflects the elevation of the DESIRES of competitive Limited Distance riders to achieve and win accolades over the NEEDS of beginning riders to have a safe, supportive venue in which to try out the sport of Endurance. Once again, I ask whether or not you were there. In my region, at least, there certainly were experienced riders on these rides, for all of the same reasons that experienced riders still ride them. Believe it or not, Diane, there WERE people in the 80s who did not have time to condition, who were recovering from injuries, and who were getting older and realizing their limitations. This is not a new phenomenon. And at times, I was among them--I recall riding LDs "back then" myself, and for different reasons--at one point recovering from a knee injury, at another point because I wanted to do a particular ride and didn't have time to get a horse more fit, and on another occasion to "sponsor" a newbie adult. And the old should-have-been-an-English-teacher always kicks in when the name comes under discussion--"limited" is an adjective that modifies the noun "distance," implying that the distance is not as far as some other distance. It in no way implies that the capability of the riders or horses that ride those "limited" distances is also limited...Frankly Heidi, this last really ticks me off. I never applied "limited" to either horse or rider in my post and for you to imply I did is, well, a bit under-handed, perhaps designed to influence the ambivalent readers on this forum more than to improve anyone's English. I didn't imply that you did, Diane--I was referring to the often-stated objection to the name that has cropped up repeatedly in the thread. I suppose I could get "ticked off" at you too, for your repeated misinterpretations and assumptions when you read my posts, but it isn't worth raising my blood pressure. For the record, I left the quote of mine above, along with your "ticked off" reply--and I clearly stated that it was a frustration "when the name comes under discussion"--NOT as you imply that I was suggesting that YOU had said it. You take far too much credit... 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|