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From: Terry
Email: enduronut@aol.com
I, too, would rather not see our sport bogged down by any more bureaucracy than it presently is. I ride heavyweight--in fact, some would call it Super Heavyweight (some would say I shouldn't even be riding)...but we do okay--always in the top 50% if there a good-sized field-- and often in the Top 10. I believe that preparation and knowing your partner have as much to do with "winning" as anything else does, and adding more weight classes or mandatory weights (beyond those required in International competition) is just a hassle. The times I have done the worst were when I was not properly prepared (stirrup leather breaking when I knew I should have replaced it, missing a turn on the trail because I didn't look at the map close enough BEFORE the ride)..NOT necessarily because my horse carried higher weight (although I'm sure that was a factor, but that's addressed in the BC scoring system for the Top 10). Sure, winning is nice. But it is most important to me that I do my best on a
given day.
By the way, I keep seeing the word "racing" bandied about during this discussion. I don't believe the AERC makes any reference to RACING, other than perhaps "racing' to the finish. The sport is Endurance RIDING, the motto is "To Finish Is To Win." I know a number of people who rode Tevis this year, and not ONE of them would call themselves a loser, whether they finished 3rd, 30th, etc (ask Steph, she was there!). I respect ALL of those people, no matter where they placed, as I respect everyone who goes out there and TRIES (regardless of weight, age, handicap status, etc), as long as they bring their horses to the vet sound and ready for more! IMHO, THAT is what this sport is supposed to be about!
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