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Re: [RC] International - Don HustonI don't consider this my "best shot". This is just my different perspective.There is no need to bash the average backyard recreational endurance trail rider who rides the average home-grown horse with average conditioning and is trying to have fun and compete against the trail. I am one of those types and we are not having a negative impact on this sport. We are the monetary backbone of this sport. If only the elite top ten's show up for a ride then the ride managers go broke and the ride is cancelled. Sure, some can't take rocks, sand, hard pan, mountains, flatlands, cars, ATVs, dogs, generators etc at top-ten-speed but we do trot along and walk along and yack a lot and give support to the timid (not always the rider ya know) who soon will not be timid and finish in 9-10 hours just fine and our ride fees make it possible for those who want to race to have a ride to race in. Whatever new rules are tried I for one will abide by with no whinning and my horse will still be trotting and walking along happy as a clam with usually no problems because that's the way we try to ride. But, just like everybody else, we've had a few pulls but nothing serious and I learned something new every time. If we as a country are not doing well on an international level I think it has more to do with the fact that our US riders have to do it on their own whereas the rest of the competition has government supported programs. Money makes a huge difference. John Parks sometimes has a special short meeting (as in mentoring) after the regular night-before-ride-meeting to give tips and answer questions for newbies. Maybe someone who successfully rides high level (as in fast) FEI would like to do the same for the potential top tenners entered at a particular ride to help improve performance? Anybody want to give away their secrets to international success and maybe their money source? I didn't think so. In closing I want to express my utmost appreciation to any and all of you who have worked or are currently working within AERC and that includes RM's too. The cumulative effect so far has been very good IMHO and I am still having fun. At 10:27 AM 1/14/2007 Sunday, Ginger Bill wrote: I can certainly see why the US is not doing well on an International level. First of all, I don't believe Endurance is the team sport that some are trying to make it out to be. When people tried to make horses and riders conform to one criteria everything started falling apart. Secondly, alot of Endurance riders have truly become trail riders versus Endurance riders. Some can't take rocks, sand, hard pan, mountains, flatlands, cars, ATVs, dogs, generators and it won't be too long we'll be required to walk the distance with very little trotting under the pretense of what's good for the horse. Yes, the older riders are still hanging in there mainly because they are wise and tough. If we keep making things easier for horses and riders, we might as well get out of competition, especially International as we are not at that level anymore. Way too many timid riders and they are having a negative impact on the sport. Okay, hit me with your best shots. Don Huston <donhuston@xxxxxxx> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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