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RE: [RC] FEI Championships - Christina McCarthyAs the owner of ONE horse that I have been competing on for the last two 1/2 years, I agree with you Angie. I do not have a "string" of endurance horses to choose from...only my one guy, who I have been taking my time with training, entering him in two CTR's to learn more about "taking care of one's horse", entering him in numerous Hunter Paces, exposed him to Fox Hunting and train him on the trail (throw in some ring work for balance, cadence and disapline. I have also crewed at a popular AERC event to learn what goes on. I don't think I will ever be in the WEC league...however if I was I would be concerned about my horse first, then for "going for the gold"...so that is why I would probably never qualify. My horse comes first..my personal ambitions, desires etc haven't any business in that relationship. I can only speak for myself, and certainly not critisize other's who think/act differently...I think that if one is not enjoying what they are doing as well as the horse...they shouldn't either do it, or need a rehaul priorities wise. You will know who I am...I'll be the one grinning ear to ear because my horse and I are having FUN...because we are both conditioned and prepared.Respectfully, Christina McCarthy > To: kimfue@xxxxxxxxxx > CC: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 23:30:52 -0500 > Subject: Re: [RC] FEI Championships > From: rides2far@xxxxxxxx > > > Steph, > > AERC rides may have a 60 % completion but AERC rides encompass > > ALL levels of riding, all levels of horses. I really don't know why > you > > wouldn't expect a ride that has the very best horses a nation has to > offer > > and the very best riders a nation has to have a better completion > rate. > > If I were a rider in the WEC now, I would not know what the heck everyone > wanted from me. On the one hand I'm condemned for not going for a sure > thing completion, on the other I'm told I've "embarassed my country with > my effort" when I didn't win a medal. Make up your minds. Which is it? > If you have that many horses being pushed to go for the WIN they *have* > to take some chances. Doesn't mean they have to risk their horse's life, > but it may mean they roll the dice on a lameness,,,doesn't mean they have > to take the risk on something like a sore tendon...but may go faster > across rocks and risk a bruise. > > The riders at an average AERC 100 haven't had to travel half way around > the world, disrupt their schedules, be stabled in strange situations, > shod by strange farriers, and then asked to represent a whole country > full of armchair quarterbacks who are going to second guess them on > everything they do. They haven't had a season of rigorous competition > leading into the race just to qualify to be there. I have no intention > of judging our team. > > I am not thrilled with the ragged edge that the "winners" now have to be > willing to ride to be first. If you want to change results, change > incentive...or you could make qualification criteria such that the "I > want it now" instant gratification types don't have the attention span to > hang around for. Not necessarilly 2500 miles, but quite a few rides > together. If you require that that rider ride that horse, it cuts down on > the number of horses a rediculously wealthy rider can afford to run > through since he would have to qualify them all himself. It would also > eliminate the buying of the horse the week before the race which is > pathetic to me. > > Angie > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > 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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