Re: [RC] LD Riders "Trail Trash" - Barbara McCrary
Excuse me, but who ever called LD riders "Trail
Trash?" I don't think anyone ever did. All we are saying is that
it's a bit too easy to over-ride a horse on a LD ride because some riders feel
it is possible to race the shorter distance. Some horses might do it just
fine, and others might not. Therefore, it is my opinion, and that of
others, that incorporating timing into a LD ride may be a dangerous thing to
do. If a BC is offered, and it is offered to the top ten riders, it is
very easy to see that time element comes into play.
I've heard this "you're treating us like second class
citizens" thing for so many years, I'm sick of it. No one can belittle you
without your permission. You're obviously proud of riding LD. I
was proud of riding LD last August, after having been away from endurance
riding for 3 years. I'm old, arthritic, and out of condition, but I don't
care and I had a blast on that LD ride. My horse is new, I thought
unconditioned (but he fooled me), and I was experimenting to see how it
went. It went fine, and I don't feel belittled one bit for having done
"only" 25 miles.
I think LD riders need to get over their feeling that
longer distance riders are belittling them. I'm not convinced it's
happening. AERC is just trying to protect horses that are not ready for
racing from riders who are inexperienced.
That said, the by-laws state that "an endurance ride is
defined as not less than 50 miles." So...what's wrong with
that?
Barbara
In a grumpy mood about revisiting this same old
argument that I lived through all the years I was on the board.
Okay so here it is in a nut shell, I am a LD rider and just like all
other LD riders, it is of my own chosing for whatever the reasons may
be. Whether you agree with my choices or not, like me or not, want to
call me names or not, I don't really care! I am "Trail Trash" but
I am dam proud of it, and happy to get to be "Trail Trash" and will
continue being "Trail Trash" for as long as necessary even if it is
forever. The rest of my team is also Ditto on this. I think
everyone needs to just get over themselves and get back on the trails.
Team Slow Poke will be out there whenever possibel "Trashing the
Trails". By the way thanks to the person who referred to us on a ride
with this term so we could come up with our new slogan.
