Re: Ride Management
Reynolds, Nikki (jakar@aiinc.com)
Mon, 20 Jan 1997 06:44:50 -0800
Luke Steele wrote:
>
> Dear Susan and Ridecampers,
> On Thu, 16 Jan 1997 20:50:36 -0800 you wrote:
> >This past weekend I finished my 2nd 25mile ride (actually mine was a 30
> >miler because I missed a turn which cost me 5 miles).
>
> Well done, Susan and Sabian! Never mind the wrong turn, we have all done
> that! I haven't forgotten how satisfying it was to compete my first LD rides
> some years ago. I will be again experiencing the LD rides this year as I get
> my 4yo gelding legged up for endurance.
>
> >I finished the ride outside the top ten. My horse and I finished healthy,
> >but we could not find out how we placed in relation to the other riders.
> >I was really disappointed in the ride management regarding
> >acknowledgement of all the riders who finished the ride. They
> >acknowledged the people in the top ten of all the distances, but no one
> >except the top ten knew how they finished relative to anyone else. To me,
> >this is very important. It helps me decide how to plan strategy for my
> >next ride experience and it helps build my confidence. I came away with
> >the feeling that anyone who doesn't finish in the top ten isn't worth
> >mentioning or keeping track of. I was disappointed.
>
> I dare say that the ride organisation was a little pressured if they were an
> inexperienced crew. You should have been acknowledged. You did receive a
> completion award, didn't you?
>
> >I have the greatest admiration for those riders and horses that are doing
> >50 and 100 mile rides. At this point in my experience, I'm in awe. I know
> >what they are doing is so hard and demands so much discipline and work
> >...I can't even imagine myself ever riding 100 miles.
>
> You'll get there, if that is what you want to do! This sport offers such a
> wide range of challenges, there are goals to set you sights on for your next
> ride, and different ones for next year. You can set yourself progressive
> goals for the rest of the year.
> My personal goal when I started in the sport was to ride 100 miles in one
> day. I have done that now several times with Nikita, and now I have young
> Shadrach to get going, so it is all back to scratch again.
>
> >The longer distance
> >riders deserve great credit for their hard work. My 25 miler is my
> >challenge for now. I train hard for my rides and I'd like to finish top
> >ten sometime before I move up to 50 milers, but my confidence won't be
> >hurt if I don't as long as we keep improving.
>
> Perhaps you might consider the 25 milers as your preparation to ride 50
> milers, then when you are completing 50 milers, to consider them as the next
> step to 75 and 100 milers. But that is just my philosophy, to complete the
> rides with a happy and healthy horse, that still has miles in the tank.
> Others like to squeeze that last drop of performance and run at the front.
> That's fine too. I am, perhaps, over cautious and conservative.
> Try not to worry too much about what the other competitors are doing, just
> aim to improve your *personal best* performances each time you are out on
> the track. Even if you do a slower time, but have a better ride, that is
> progress.
>
> >I wish the ride management this weekend had given all the riders credit
> >for completion by at least telling them how they placed in the pack.
>
> I am sure, if you asked nicely, that the management might have let you have
> a look at the master sheets after the presentations, to see how your time
> compared with others.
>
> >Happy Tails
> >Susan & Sabian
>
> Don't forget to have fun!
> Luke
> Luke Steele
> luke.steele@fujitsu.com.au
Hi Luke!! I like your outlook!!! Spoken like a student of the true
meaning of endurance!! *smile* Thanks for the mental "lift" to start
my day!! -Nikki