[RC] LD and Joe Long's post - shermanIMO it is good to do some 25 mile rides before attempting a 50, but you don't need to do those miles as a sanctioned ride. My daughter and I never did a sanctioned ride before we entered a 50. My horse didn't complete the first time, but it had nothing to do with conditioning or preparedness and everything to do with low selenium. All the 25s we did never brought that to light. Penance can be done on your own, as it was before there were 25s or 50s. Kathy Renee wrote: I do not know how to directly reply to Joe's post but I like what he said.I am preparing for my first LD later this summer - yep, I am a greenhorn newbie.?? I have volunteered at some rides, but have not taken my own horse yet.??? You bet your buttons that I will be one happy and proud camper when I finish that 25.?? As long as my mare is sound and happy at the end, then I will be happy.?? And then I can keep going....maybe next year, a 25 then try a 50 - we shall see. Of course my ultimate goal in life is a Tevis buckle but the dangling of that HUGE carrot has caused me to start working out and taking better care of myself and riding more.? I see 25s as something that you have to do, put in your time so to speak - and if you are happy there, that is good too.?? What I hate is seeing a newbie trying a 50 for her FIRST ride and nearly killing her horse because she has not "done her penance" in the 25s - I have a goofball near me like that, and I am not going to follow in her footsteps. (And she tells everyone she meets that she is an endurance rider.? Her AERC record tells a different story.) ? It is a journey to a goal and you should not try to "skip" any steps.? IMHO, anyway.....? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|