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[RC] participation in events - Jackie CausgroveHi
I've read a few posts that ask the question (among others) why would someone participate in an event even though there wasn't a chance at being competative. Why go through all of that? If not for ego, then what?
Well, I can only answer from my own experiences in another disipline. Obviously, my experiences do not speak for a whole but perhaps there is enough commonality to make some sense out of the question.
There is only one way to gain experience and that is to do it. I rode open jumpers (stadium jumping). To ride at a schooling show is not the same as riding in a rated show; nor is riding at a national show the same as riding in international competation. Despite the amount of experience I had at a national level, riding in international level felt like starting all over again! And despite the fact that I didn't have much of a chance in first few international shows, there was only one way of gaining that experience and that was to do it. Once I got the hang of it, I could be competative again. However, going to the Olympic Horse Trials was not the same as the other international competations. Again, at the Horse Trails, I was not expected to do anything much. But I went anyways. And I did respectable; even if I didn't set the Show Jumping world on it's ear! :)
Just because one does not have any real chance should not be a reason not to go. It is a matter of a learning curve and this can not accomplished without trial and error; nor can it be accomplished in a vaccuum.
It is how anyone accomplishes anything; from learning how to ride to learning a new language.
I hope that limitations of immediate success in a disipline would not be a deciding factor everytime. I mean, where would have been the Jamacian Bobsled Team!!!
Thanks for the ear,
Jackie
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