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RE: [RC] being competitive - Bob MorrisSteph: You pose some interesting discussion points in your post below. I will offer my point of view once again. Your first venture is into the realm of "to finish is to win' - 'the trail is the only competition' - 'we shouldn't care if we don't finish (to start is to win)" Rightly so, the entire quote is the basis of our sport. If these basics are forgotten then the competition turns into a completely commercial venture and is no longer a sport. To finish is to win is such a true statement that a miniscule portion of the countries population ever accomplishes it. I means the person who completes an endurance ride is an outstanding horse person as compared to the general population. You go an top ask "Is this sport really that different from others in which there's a real sense of competition?" I must answer an emphatic YES!!! How many other equine sports have the time exposure in competition? How many other equine sports are so closely controlled by exact veterinary standards? How many other equine sports are run on ungroomed terrain? This list could go further but you get the concept. As to the competition in the sport, It is there but not expressed in the same manner as the other equine sports. Remember, those sports are performed in front of massive crowds where as our chosen form is performed in front of very, very few. For the others, almost instant gratification is assured. In endurance gratification is a more personal thing, obtained from the trail, the views of the surrounding country and in the sense of accomplishment. If you believe that competition on the higher level is absent in endurance, then I can assure you, when you see six or eight horses in a flat out run for the finish line after 150 miles in less than 24 hours, competition is present in the fullest. It is expressed in not only the race but in the fact that the horses are racing, the riders have accomplished something extraordinary and they know that the prize is miniscule. Those riders won much more than any "Gold Medal" ld ever express. Your statement " But I've also felt that there is a subtle 'to try to win is bad' version of our sport motto." is an unwarranted feeling. I do know exactly what you are referring to. This unique manifestation of placing the alpha score on the vet card above really knowing your horse is the cause of some of it. How did we ever do well in endurance when the vets only used OK or PULLED on the card? My feeling is, if you get all "A's" on your card you did not get the best from your horse that day. You did not even do your best. To me though, competing in something like the Presidents Cup is not the epitome of endurance competition. To me the pinnacle is to be continually placing in the top of competition with minimal pulls (i.e. 99% top ten and 96% completion) and thousands of miles. It is not an impossible position but one that requires intent, work and the proper mental attitude. After all, what is better, to be at the top in our sport year after year with no gold or to go for the gold and have a one season horse? Mind you my concepts are based on a non-commercial position. Bob Bob Morris Morris Endurance Enterprises Boise, ID -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steph Teeter Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2006 9:40 AM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] being competitive It might be interesting for a while to talk about the competitive aspect of the sport. We seem to spend a lot more bandwith on emphasizing 'to finish is to win' - 'the trail is the only competition' - 'we shouldn't care if we don't finish (to start is to win)', etc. Is this sport really that different from others in which there's a real sense of competition? - which is the best? who got the gold medal? I have a hard time imagining an eventing competition or a show jumping competition or a reining competition or a driving competition - without the real sense of 'competition'. Is our sport really that different? I've always felt that the AERC's 'finish is to win' motto is fantastic - it really does engage participation, preservation, a sense of accomplishment. But I've also felt that there is a subtle 'to try to win is bad' version of our sport motto. Those that do set winning as their goal in this sport (in this country) are somehow poo-poo'd, less than noble - as if the goal of winning (horse and rider pitted against horse and rider) is less honorable than finishing (horse and rider pitted against the trail). It's great that everybody can find their niche in this sport (points, mileage, career, etc). But wouldn't it be fun for a while to get behind our 'winners' ? Discuss training, conditioning, pacing, peaking - the real hard work and focus that goes into a real competition? Valerie Kanavy and Danielle McGunigal Kanavy left for Abu Dhabi today, for the Presidents Cup. Two of the US top riders are going to a foreign country to compete against the local top riders. Even though the odds of winning are very slim (shipping horses half way around the world to compete against riders on their home turf) we can be certain that the two riders and their horses (Bull and Ironman Gold) are prepared to perform at their best. This takes work and focus and quite a bit of courage. We (AERC - US) should be proud of these guys, and rooting for them over there! Steph =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- =-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- =-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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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