Re: Race against...yourself...

["Tina Hicks" <hickst@nichols.com>]

I think that this is just one element of the sport - but
there is also room for those (I am including myself in this
group) who go to a ride sometimes to ride competitively -
which to me means, if everything falls into place, a top ten
finish.

There is nothing wrong with those that consistenly race -
after all there is a finish line and those that cross it
first are in front of those that cross it last. You
(generically speaking) (or I the vast majority of the time)
may choose to complete most of our rides but that doesn't
mean anyone else shouldn't try to do something different.
And that doesn't make them cut-throat in my mind.

We are a competitive culture - look at kids staring t-ball,
football, and soccer at age 5 - to think people will pay to
enter an event with a finish line, placings, and prizes and
*not* race is looking thru rose colored glasses I think.

There is lots of comradarie out there - I experienced a ton
of it this weekend - from hooking up with someone who
pre-dates the Tevis(talk about a walking, talking history
book of the sport) to getting an e-boot on the trail - but
that doesn't mean you can expect everyone to go down the
trail holding hands and handing out flowers <g>.

There's room for all of us - and many of us change from ride
to ride. I see many riders - myself included at times - who
may top ten one ride and then complete lower middle of the
pack next ride for a variety of reasons.

And that's the beauty of this sport in my mind. 

Tina
hickst@nichols.com






Kimberly Price wrote:
> 
> Just catching up on weeks of digests...when do you people ever ride?!
> <g>
> 
> This debate with weight and horses, riding LD's and racing, $10.00
> measely bucks extra creating havoc...over and over again I am thinking
> to myself...who are these people racing?
> 
> I thought, and correct me if I'm wrong, that endurance was about racing
> yourself, improving on your personal best, that to finish is to win....
> 
> So, if I'm racing against my personal best, well, then what I weight on
> that same horse doesn't really matter...right?
> 
> And if I'm racing against myself, than placement in a 50 or an LD
> doesn't really matter, does it?
> 
> Sure, there are always some cut-throat racers out there, at all levels,
> but the MAJORITY are racing their personal best and happy with a horse
> in good condition, fit to continue.....I don't think we hear enough from
> these type of riders, they just don't stress about the issues that seem
> to cause havoc on ridecamp.
> 
> Hey, maybe we should get rid of top ten period, and change it to top
> best conditions...then the riders who believe the true endurance
> philosophy will appear...
> 
> I'm a member of AERC, first time this year, no discounts or incentives
> given.  Because of SADDLE problems I'm not doing any 50's, although the
> horse is able.  Now, I'm in the hole moneywise, but I get a cool
> magazine and I support the sport.   I'm not whining either, and I don't
> think the majority of riders out there would whine about $10 more for
> not being a member.  Why do we assume they would?  Just what is the big
> deal?
> 
> These recent posts reveal to me we seem to be losing sight of what this
> sport is suppose to be about.
> 
> You, your horse, how you've conditioned and cared for your horse, your
> personal best....not what everyone else is doing......
> 
> Just my .02cents......
> Kimberly (&Mystery the Morab)
> Pt.Reyes, CA