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RE: [RC] Time and Money to Do This Sport... getting philosophical - Jannelle Wilde & Adam FalkI just turned 40 and have been riding for 4 years. I have a wife and two boys, 7 and 12. I was forced to change jobs about 18 months ago but some how that has not stopped me from competing in the NW region. I do involve my family who really enjoy going to rides and sleeping in until I get back in camp when the all are needed to crew for me!! The thing that I have found most difficult is training time with my new job. My old job I had time to ride from 6:30 am to 7:30 each day before work. I have to be at work an hour sooner now and am always tired when I get home. I also feel like I am taking time away from the family after work unlike in the morning when I was the only one up. I have never had the same goals two years in a row and I judge my success against each years goals. I have changed from going fast for the win to extending the mileage with no pulls. While I have not goal to compete at the FEI level it is something that you can shoot for even if you are not rich. My suggestion is to try and make it fun for the family and bring them along. Ridecamp is a great place for families, at least in the NW. I do not know how many rides you have in your area so 90% doesn't mean much to me. I have done as many as 7 on one horse in one season but usually ride 2 horses during the year so that I can do as many as 12 to 14 rides depending on the distances and how my luck goes. Also just showing up to help at a ride for the day is a lot of fun if you cannot make it with a horse. My wife and I try to volunteer at two rides a year where I am not riding. When I am riding My wife usually helps out anyway. The bottom line is have fun and don't take it all to seriously, it will ruin it for you and your family. Adam Jannelle Wilde & Adam Falk 584 Romie Howard Rd. Yoncalla OR 97499 541-849-2460 866-241-1531 (toll-free) www.mfarm.org & www.wildeivey.com -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp- owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mike Lewis Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 5:57 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] Time and Money to Do This Sport... getting philosophical I've been riding endurance for about 9 years now, including a 4 year break due to work duties and graduate school. I have been wondering how folks afford this sport financially and in terms of time. Big changes since I last rode endurance regularly: got married and started a family, and was promoted at work. My desire is to ride at least 90% of the rides in my region during any given season, and to go as far with this sport as I can. I want to ride well in some big races overseas sometime within the next 40 years. :-) After riding an old gelding for years, I finally have a horse who might be competitive in long races (and want more such horses in my stable), and being an avid athlete myself know I can take just about anything the trail offers. Bottom line from what I've observed is that it looks like most folks who are successful in this sport are self employed, are part of a wealthy family who share this hobby, or are employed by a gracious employer who allows plenty of time off to trailer to rides on Thursdays/Fridays. It seems difficult for us mid-30-somethings with a "regular job" and family responsibilities to dedicate the time and money endurance racing requires to be successful. I'm not here to gripe as much as I'm looking for folks' anecdotes telling me I'm not so unique in my search to give endurance racing more priority in my life despite job responsibilities and pay situation that makes doing so difficult. :-) Would be interested in hearing from folks who are excelling in this sport despite demands of job/family/pay situations. How'd ya do it? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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