>- everyone
>else is doing something different than you (in this case riding a different
>breed) and you just figure that is the breed you have to have and maybe you
>shouldn't show up with your walker or racking horse or whatever the case may
>be.
Not to mention the fact that walkers have such *ugly* heads...ha ha -
actually, my mare has a pretty head, even a little dish, but in a
classic sense, no way as pretty as an arab....seriously, I did have
a lot of misgivings before my first ride - how would people react -
would I be laughed out of camp? Would my horse fail so miserably
everyone would point fingers and stare and whisper "why on earth
would she bring such a horse to this ride?" You know, real jitters.
Plus, I really didn't know how my horse would do.
The horse did fine, other than thinking it was all a race for 10 miles at
least and thinking it was the most exciting thing he'd ever done in
his life! I thought so too!
I hafta say that I have encountered *much* less breed prejudice (as in
>_none_) in this sport than in other horse sports I've been involved in -
>either pro or con Arabs.
>
Yep, as I discovered, people didn't laugh, or point or stare, just
were very friendly, came up and introduced themselves (wow! I wasn't
snubbed), *welcomed* me, answered my nervous questions, gave me
tips, offered to ride with me, actually complimented my horse...
Not only did my horse have a great time, I really, really liked
everyone I met.
>But then, how many people out there are
>>really racing for the top spots?
>I think that's a very important point that hasn't been brought up enough.
>The answer is very few - a very small percentage. Saying "well I don't want
>to ride my walker (insert gaited breed of choice) in endurance because only
>Arabs win these things" is like saying "No, I'm not going to try ice skating
>because I'm not built like Kristi Yamaguchi (sp) and you have to built like
>her to go the olympics" - absurd!
>
>Tina - going to a ride this weekend where she won't be doing any racing for
>any spots anywhere near the top.....
>Tony - who is clueless at this point
Jude - who wishes she was going to a ride this weekend, but knows she is
not ready yet this season-to-be...first ride May 3!