RE: I can not think of any
thing more boring to watch or ride.
NASCAR.... A bunch of cars go around and around the same
track for 500 miles. How can you tell who is winning? They get lapped by each
other, take pit stops... Boring!! It is noisy and smelly! It
will never catch on..:) Who would want to watch that? Not me, but
somehow a few hundred thousand folks show up at a track just about every
week to watch. I hear they even show it on TV every once and while. Not too
shabby for what started out as a bunch of moonshine running Good Old Boys
running dirt roads in their souped up hot rods.
The ride you described in Alberta was more like a typical Endurance Ride
from a spectator standpoint. The horses come into camp and then disappear
again for 13 miles. I am not talking about a 24 hour Endurance test. My
concept is to travel a set distance ( 50 -100 miles), over a visible
course. Instead of 12 or 15 or 17 mile loops, it would have a 1 mile
loop. It couldn't be more boring to watch than our regular rides. I am
positive it will be more fun for the crews. Instead of waiting for a rider
to appear out of the wilderness, they can watch their rider all day long and
anticipate what will be needed at each vet check. Heck, the rider can call out
to them what to have ready at the next lap. As for it being boring to ride, we
won't know until we try it.
We talk about " Team riding" during International and competition,
but when does the "team" practice? How do they practice? This type of
event could help with Team riding.
PS: I will never be an FEI/National Championship type of rider that could
really benefit from this type of event. My personal preferences are long
scenic rides with no repeat loops. ( OD, Tevis, etc). My sole
interest here is in growing the Sport.
