Re: Another dimension

VMAXEPT@aol.com
Sun, 24 Nov 1996 00:51:56 -0500

Hi
20 Years ago I started in this great sport back here in the East. We had very
few end rides so most of us did ECTRA CTR.. We all learned to put on the
base.. first. We had lectures every year from the current super vets of that
day AND they still are with us today..and a ragged bunch of riders who
fiqured things out ..after wreaking a few horses..Dr Mathew MK. Dr Fraizer
Dr Ridgeway, Dr Jim Morse, ..cant think of the others... Riders Pete Fields,
Lucile Kenyon, a bunch from NE-VT, Maggie P and Larry K/ Val K and a young
Daniel K...
One thing we did was RIDE.. alot of WET saddle blankets. worn shoes etc.
Not much high tech in the 70's. We just RODE because we were drawn by this
sport. It gets to you. We learned on the fly..Had alot of down time.
I over-rode the first 3 horses. Still have one he is 26 .
We were not blessed with the super horse, so we made do with what gifts GOD
gave us. We of course had major problems with soundness from riding too much,
bad shoeing, a vets who thought we were horse killers and would not help us.
No wounder so many end riders try to be part-time vets, we HAD to learn what
is/was happening with the horses.. The GREAT horses survived just like those
of the 60's.
The others 'retired' or were sold.. some died.
We never lost a horse, close ,so far no one has died.. even of old age.

The races back then were slower for the most part. Competition was between
horseman.. there were not any 50 milers.. remember the fights about allowing
50 mile races into AERC.. just like the current 25 mile stuff.. been there
done that..

We now train SMART. I ride much LESS miles, BUT TRAIN with QUALITY miles.
I dont just trail ride so much anymore like I did back then..
Think I miss that some though..
busy..working 2 to 3 horses, competitions every weekend or at least 3x a
month.. Both disciplines END and CTR even though now it is NATRC..I still
cant get enough of this.. My life has been this sport. Where I live, what I
did for a job, how our family was structured.
We have ' get around' horses- they get to the finish line.
The mare I ride today would not be going down the trail still, IF I had her
back in 72.
I would have used her up long ago.
We use better equipment, better feeding program, better care, better training
methods.. better breeding and purchase selection ..we all do, thats why there
are over 12000+ ?? riders-horses doing this thing, and getting better every
year.

Though education, science and art, we are carring on the moto of Wendel
Robbie
RIDE-REALLY RIDE!

Roger R

I wounder if he ever thought how his sport would turn out? like ir is?

Roger R