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Re: [RC] 2006 Big Horn 100 - Joe LongOn Sun, 23 Jul 2006 20:17:41 -0700, Laney Humphrey <laneyhh@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Old timers complain that today's riders can't do really tough rides. They may not be wrong, but the sport has to keep up with the times. We are no longer a nation of people who grew up on horseback out in the woods, learning horsemanship and outdoor skills almost before we learned to walk. Hmmmm? I have nearly13,000 miles, am an AERC Hall of Fame rider, who owns an AERC Hall of Fame horse (who has over 11,000 miles himself) -- and I grew up in the city, in a poor section of town, and didn't own a horse until I was 22 years old. Rather than designing rides that can be completed by only a very few (& those likely to be locals who know the trails with their eyes closed); successful ride managers will acknowledge that for probably 95% of today's AERC members, riding is a hobby fitted into a busy schedule of work and family. I'm not arguing for walks in the park; I am suggesting successful and popular rides will be ones that accurately measure the trail, then accurately describe it, and finally recognize that in today's world, vets and drag riders are expected and necessary. Vets and well-marked trails, yes. Drag riders -- nice to have, but hardly necessary. There is a place for extreme rides such as Big Horn apparently was, but they should be described as such and perhaps limited to people and horses with many miles of comparable experience so that the unwary are not put at unneccessary risk. Laney Hmmm ... that's why Sanshra finished the Big Horn 100 in 3rd place, when it was his very first 100. His first ride longer than 55 miles. The Big Horn is tough, no doubt about it. But it is also very do-able. This year had some extra challenges, with abnormally hot weather and the re-route. Still, most of the riders finished successfully. And when you finish that ride, you are on top of the world. In my not-so-humble opinion, anyone who wants to experience the finest and most beautiful challenge that our sport has to offer, will do the Big Horn 100 at least once. You really haven't had the full endurance experience without it. -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.chiprider.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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