Re: LD vs Endurance

[shari <snaylor@pacific.net>]

Very nicely said! Thank You!

At 09:31 PM 4/1/98 EST, Lancette M Koerner wrote:
>In response to Wendy Merendini
>
>The issue of LD riders feeling like second class citizens is really not
>SILLY.  It is not a feeling within ourselves.  It is projected on us by
>others!
>When I started riding LD I never felt so good.  Just finishing with my
>horse in great condition was so exciting!  It wasn't until I had been
>around for awhile, and I started hearing the negative talk that I
>realized there were folks out there looking down on me because I ride LD.
>  I was shocked!   This hasn't change my feelings about LD just makes me
>angry at the folks who are making LD riders feel ashamed  of what they
>are doing instead of recognizing them for accomplishment.  There are so
>many people out there who get sucked into this snobbish attitude, and
>don't want to do an LD ride because they have been told its not a  "real"
>ride.     I know of people who have gone out and done a 50 for their
>first endurance ride.  The result , disaster!   The definition of
>Endurance is "The act, quality or power of withstanding hardship or
>stress."  I guarantee,  that even after 5 months of training 4-5 times a
>week,   after our  first LD ride my horse qualified as having done an
>endurance ride.    It is a matter of perspective.  When I started doing
>LD, I had a hard time believing that someday we would be doing 50 mile
>rides.  Well, now after two years of LD I believe we can do it and we 
>will be moving up.  The experiences we have had in the LD rides has been
>critical to this new found belief and ability.   I would not recommend
>anyone start out with a 50 miler for their horses sake.  No matter how
>good of condition their horse is in.  There is just to much to learn for
>both horse and rider that no book can tell you.  You've just got to take
>time and experience it.   
>
>I want to see LD recognized and awarded for what it is a " LD Endurance
>ride."   How would the 50 mile riders feel if they no longer received
>placements because, after all, a 50 is just a training ride for a 100
>right?  To those moving up to 100's it is but I bet there are a great
>number of 50 mile riders who will never move to 100's.  Likewise in the
>LD rides.  Why not recognize these horses and riders.  Of course an LD is
>not the same as a 50 or a 100, but for a lot of folks it is as much
>endurance as they will ever know.  Lets encourage folks to come into our
>sport by first showing them that they can be successful and be rewarded
>in the LD before we encourage them to move up.  For those who are capable
>it is natural to want to move up.  After our LD ride this weekend I was
>surprised at how easy it seemed, but I am sure many many people on that
>ride did not feel the same way.  I am sure once I have begun doing 50's a
>LD will no longer be an endurance ride to me.  But it is to the people
>riding them and they should be recognized by receiving placement and
>awards at every ride just like the 50 mile riders do.
>
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