Re: LD question

[CMKSAGEHIL <CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com>]

Hi, Kirsten--

One of the things you mentioned in your post is one of the reasons for
eliminating the ''race" aspect of LD's.  The very fact that you were "with"
the front runners as a newbie (and why wouldn't you be, after all, that's what
it's all about, huh?) and you got unhorsed and your horse had the irresistible
urge to continue on with said front runners says to me, "Gee, what did we
teach this newcomer's horse on this day?"  Instead of learning to pace and to
settle in at the start for the long task at head, your horse learned that this
was a mad dash.  Not very constructive.  Sounds like in your case, at least,
there was no harm done, but in my years in this sport, I have seen many good
prospects ruined psychologically and many riders hurt by the "race" aspect of
the shorter rides.  It doesn't always happen the first time out, either.
Sometimes it happens as the season progresses, and the horse gets fitter, and
the rider goes faster....  "Racing" is something that most serious endurance
riders don't even teach their horses until they have learned to complete 50's
successfully, so that they have an understanding of how far they have to go
and won't waste their energy trying to race too soon.

I have no problem with the LD rider being proud of a placing, but it would be
far more constructive if the emphasis was praise for getting the 3rd highest
vet score instead of being the 3rd one in.  

Heidi