Re: Judging how to "move up a level"...

[BMcCrary27@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/2/98 2:51:34 PM Pacific Standard Time,
grs@TheNetEffect.com writes:

<< I guess it depends on why you're riding though -- do you want miles and
 personal satisfaction, or do you want Top Ten recognition?
  >>

This is the way all endurance rides are. They are different things to
different people. One of the greatest rides I've ever done was on a 5 1/2 year
old that I bred, raised, and conditioned myself. It was her first full
distance ride (someone else had ridden her on a LD ride previously), 55 miles.
I started last (she was having a fit of excessive excitement),  I rode
primarily alone, and we finished last. But in between, I learned so much about
her, her attitude, her physical capabilities, her intelligence. The learning
was the exciting part!

We must all remember that the definition of an endurance ride is "not less
than 50 miles". I KNOW from experience that any rider, on any horse, without
conditioning, can do 25-35 miles. I've done it. My very first ride, and I'm a
complete novice, knowing nothing about it, and I take a running QH, both of us
totally unconditioned, on a 50 mile ride. It was a case of complete ignorance.
I figured this horse had been out on pasture on a hillside and he should be in
condition to do 50. It couldn't be that hard. We did manage 45 miles, but were
very overtime. I could have done 25 of that within time and I wouldn't have
had to invest any time learning, conditioning, improving myself or the horse.
This is why I believe that a LD ride is NOT an endurance ride (by definition
and by philosophy). But do I scorn LD rides? NOT at all. They are an
introduction, a learning process, a way to keep invloved in the sport, the
fun, the excitement and the adventure when our bodies or the horses' are
saying we either can't or don't want to stress ourselves that hard any more.
It's nothing to be ashamed of; we just have to look at things differently and
accept it. But a LD ride is STILL not an endurance ride by definition, and I
strongly believe it shouldn't be - ever.

BMc