Cosequin/anybody care?

[rides2far@juno.com (Angela C. McGhee)]

O.K.  No info seems to be on the web.  Surely somebody out there has an
inside line. 
 
    I heard third hand (totally unconfirmed and should be treated as
such) that Wendy Mattingly won the Cosequin Ride on Cash with Danielle
right behind on Jedi. (that should go over like a lead balloon)  Didn't
know who was 3rd, but  they thought Debi Gordan was 4th on Redman. 60
started / 20 finished.  I also heard that none of the UAE riders
finished. 

You know, I think this is sort of sad.  I think about the great stories
that came from Tevis...none of which were from even top 10...they were
personal victories...people who had so many different handicaps, from
cancer to horses who had been through some ordeal at some time...they
were all winners...."To Finish Is To Win" and all that.  Somehow, it
seems that at this ride, to get cash was to win and the rest are losers. 
There was no real history, no time for people to set this as a major goal
in their lives...

There has to be a way for this to be different.  I never minded the
winner of the ROC getting a horsetrailer.  What is it that's so different
about this?  I know lots of people were really proud that their horses
were "ROC qualified", it was an elite group.  I've planned to use that
term as soon as Kaboot reaches the qualifications, even if there's not an
ROC by that time.  

I also heard that Melissa Crain won the Natchez Trace ride yesterday and
got BC.  Thought it was ironic that she wasn't at the Cosequin.  She's
top tenned at two World Championships, a North American Championship and
won the ROC...but she didn't go to the Cosequin.  

To me, one of the joys of endurance is finding a horse and bringing him
along yourself.  No matter if the Kanaveys did buy Jedi, I'll still think
of him as Nina Warren's horse.  She made him.  I'm sure it takes lots of
skill to continue to win with him after you buy a winner, but it's just
not the same to me.   (Darolyn Butler also took a horse named Jedi,
there's room for confusion there, but they said Danielle, so I would
guess I've got the right Jedi)

Just some thoughts.  Anybody out there who doesn't have blisters on their
fingers from the LD debate that wants to voice an opinion?

Angie






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