Re: [RC] And herein lies the real source of complaint (was: Christophin Mongolia) - Diane Trefethen - oddfarm
Well Diane, I'm sure your post will keep those "who
don't really know crap about how this race will be run" from voicing their
opinions. That IS what everyone is sharing. Opinions. I don't know anything
about robbing a bank but I am pretty sure it is dangerous. At least that is my
opinion. I guess a successful bank robber
might beg to differ.
I know of an extreme race run in the dessert for
maybe a week long with no trail markings and very little support along the
way. It's a foot race. More like a crawl in the end. It only involves people.
You may have seen it on Nat Geo. The only lives in danger are the participants
themselves. I say more power to 'em.
The organizers may be successful in extreme sports
involving only people, but now they have added another living creature into the
equation. Those who have signed on may have riding experience, but this isn't
dressage or jumping or even a pleasure ride.
I am not sure how you can assume that all of the
participants will be prepared. That would make too much sense and a large
population of horse people don't have any sense. That's just my opinion.
If I had a penny, yes a penny for every time I
heard "My horse could do endurance" from an "experienced" horse person, I could
pay off our national debt! Not only do they KNOW their horse could do it,
they KNOW they could win. Never mind that they ride a cow hocked, swaybacked
Saddlebred because they couldn't tell good confirmation on horse if it were
shoved up their nose. Never mind the fact that they feed 20 pounds of sweetfeed
a day and one flake of hay because they don't have a clue about nutrition. Never
mind the fact that they couldn't tell a keg shoe from a rim shoe. Oh, but they
ride, they show and they have trainers so they are experienced!
I agree with Kim, (truly a voice of reason, IMO :)
that the promoters have an obligation to take into consideration the fact that
these people are not driving cars, but riding horses. That obligation should
absolutely include some type of screening process to determine what experience
these horse people might have that directly relates to the challenge.
Showing doesn't count, IMO. Pleasure riding doesn't count, IMO. Accepting
applications only from those who are active
participants in a distance riding organization with a reputable record would
certainly be a great place to start. IMO.
You really can't compare this event with
any AERC sanctioned events. AERC has the experience, the history and access
to experts in the field of distance riding. The organization putting this event
on has ZERO. How do they know the difference between a true horseman and someone
who is full of crap? Lots of horse people are full of crap! Even the
professional ones!!
I am not sure how factual your comment is that most
of the LD riders in AERC are not as experienced as the endurance riders are.
However I would certainly believe that starting at A and ending at X, or 3 loops
around an arena
could NEVER equal the experience to ride even a weenie 25 mile ride:) Let alone every
day for one or more weeks. I don't think only "world class riders", (what does
that even mean?) should participate, but registering those with REAL distance
riding experience wouldn't be asking too much. I'll bet the ponies would agree.
