My experience leads me to feel that crews
are more important for longer distances...75-100 miles, when the rider may be
more tired. Unless a rider has physical constraints that make it difficult
or impossible to trot his/her own horse for the vets, there shouldn't be a huge
need for a crew on a 50.
Sooo... I guess a pit
crew is only "needed" when doing a 50 or more...? In CTR, we just do it all
ourselves, and I can't really imagine sitting around while others take care of
my horse... but then again, I've never done anything over "Novice" which is a
combo of 30 (+/-) miles over TWO days... usually close to 20 one day and
the remainder the next. I am a "distance rookie"...
I guess you are really
whipped when doing a 50 and people to care for you and your horse is
nice... do Endurance people doing a ride under 50 usually have a
Crew?
I've been watching this
sport (Endurance) for a while now, and I suppose I'm beginning to see more of
the differences between NATRC and AERC... I love the personal freedom of AERC,
and am beginning to see it as a true SPORT (as in organized athletics), where
as I can now see more clearly the objective of NATRC being "the best
trail horse" type of competition... which would explain Pit Crew vs. No Pit
Crew. Both sides are fun, and each have their highlights...
In my case my pit crew (for my first and only
ride so far) was the wonderful lady that owns the barn I board at and she
had not one but 2 complete newbies to take care of. She was our hand holder,
our butt kicker and our surrogate mom all rolled into one!
Oh yes... Pit crews are the most abused people on the
face of the earth....at least those that crew for me. :)) They
are the support people. Patiently wait for you at the vetchecks,
only to then be your "slave". They cool, care, feed, walk, blanket,
sometimes trot out the horse for you. They are like Pit crews at
NASCAR....except for horses, and usually don't change the tires.
They provide you with food (if they are really good), let you sit back and
relax and do everything for you and the horse. A really good crew is
a special person. They are not a requirement, but do make
things nicer. If you are used to not having one, you won't miss not
having one now. And if you get one, they tend to spoil you to
wanting one.
Hope that helps.
Jody
Dana <Dana@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi
there -- coming from a CTR background, I am unfamiliar with a "Pit
Crew"... can you all tell me what one is, why they are necissary,
and what they do?
I am going to the Hog Scramble this weekend
for an into 15 miles on Saturday... I am SO excited!!
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
