Re: RC: WHITE FLAG!

[Linda Cowles <linda_cowles@mentorg.com>]

Somebody threw up that white flag, and then continued to take pot shots
at some fine, highly regarded endurance riders. Interesting.

Endurance is defined as 50 or more miles. 

LD's can be great accomplishments to individuals for their own reasons.
I've been proud of a few that I completed due to the circumstances.

But LD's are ONLY training and conditioning rides, by the AERC
definition, and by the definition of those of us that ride real
endurance distances - 50 miles or more. People with fit, suitable horses
and the grit to ride real endurance think of LD's as a short distance. I
could finish an LD on 16 year old, metabolically challenged Shatirr, and
have him look great, and he's been a pasture pet for two years. 

I frequently ride 30-40 miles on weekends on a minimum of 2 horses in
VERY tough country for training. I came in 9th on last weekends SASO 50,
and did the 25 mile LD loop the next day as an easy training ride for a
second horse. That's a 75 mile weekend, but only 50 miles of it was
endurance riding.

We need to award a different type of endurance awards for anyone who can
endure these pointless threads!!!!

25 miles is a training distance!!! I have to move this weekend, so I'm
going to go ride a 20 mile loop **two** times on two different horses -
today - THURSDAY - and again on Saturday, to get them both ready for
next weekends Grant Ranch 50. That's endurance, it's tough, it's crazy,
but folks - it ain't "Endurance Riding". Get a clue, okay?

Oh, excuses don't cut it with me. You could write a series of gothic
novels based on my life story - many hard knocks - and I work 40-60 hour
weeks, volunteer a lot, have 5 horses in my care now, two in training
for 50's and two more that I want have in 50's in 40 days, and I've
agreed to ground train (parelli) two valuable yearling fillies, a nice
young stallion and nice 5 year old TB mare. I'm a little too busy to
ride endurance <heh!heh!heh!>  but I fit it in. That and laundry.

If you want to ride Endurance, **DON'T** lower the standards to make it
easy for you!! Raise your expectations of yourself!  Take that
challenge, or find a different challenge. 

Endurance is 50+ miles - ride it out.

 Linda



Maggie Mieske wrote:
> 
> Obviously we are not all ever going to be able to agree on everything
> all the time... I appreciate those who were able to share their thoughts
> and opinions on ridecamp without personal bashing.  I don't appreciate
> some of the nasty flames...I lost respect for a few campers due to that.
> We are all entitled to an honest opinion and I never tell someone that
> they should change their mind or rethink their position.  These
> differences are what make us unique and help us learn from each other...
> if we were all the same and had the same opinions and ideas, what fun
> would we have then?  I hereby request a white flag truce and pledge to
> refrain from inflicting my opinions upon ridecampers for at least as
> long as it takes me to enjoy a day or two or three of riding!  I also
> apologize to Angie for breaking the rule about LD being the too hot to
> handle subject... I forgot myself, Angie and am truly sorry!  Twenty
> lashes with a wet horsetail!  OUCH!! OUCH!! OUCH!!
> Maggie
> 
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-- 


"When you think you're through changing, you're through..."


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Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=