LD
Ron Olko (captron1@ix.netcom.com)
Tue, 28 Jan 1997 22:43:39 -0800
Endurance - the ability to withstand hardship, adversity or stress.
I challenge you to find a pleasure trail riding horse who can complete
and vet check out a 25 mile ride. According to Webster, a 25 miler
constitutes an endurance challenge. I, as well as Melody, take
exception to such comments as " no real endurance rider would brag
about winning a LD" I have and I will. I have a fulltime job, 2 kids, a
limited budget and 2 backyard horses that weren't bought with this
sport in mind. I was able to condition my TB well enough to win and
get BC at the Sunland ride 11-93. I was and still am VERY proud of that.
And no, Teddy doesn't need help(she can defend herself), but her post did
read "MOST winners are not the least bit fit or know anything about
fitness". I run, not jog, 15 miles per week, lift weights and have
blood pressure so low that I can't give blood. As for knowledge, I
graduated with a B.S. in Animal Sciense from Penn State and
teach a H.S. physiology class. Please don't make blanket statements
about people you don't know. Please don't belittle people who are doing the
best that they are able. I've ridden 50's. There are ignorant racers
in those rides. There are overridden horses in those races. This isn't
intended to get anyone mad. I just hate the attitude that I and my beloved
horse are worthless and "not real endurance riders" just because we
ride/race within our limits, conditioning time and budget. I really admire
and am envious of people riding 50's or 100's. No, a 50 or a 100 is not
at all like a 25. But as has been stated, the regular Joe horse in the
stable can't go out and win a 25. At least not in the SW region where
our 25 milers are well conditioned for the most part. Yes, I can do 50's ,
but not right now. We're in that getting back into fit stage. And those
darned generalizations again, I do LD and have been an AERC
member for 4 years.