Re: RC: CTR rides not the same everywhere

[Dbeverly4@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/16/99 3:13:18 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
dgerman@earthlink.net writes:

<< 
 So, maybe you would like doing CTR, just not NATRC CTR. C'mon up to
 Ohio!
  >>

I've been competing in NATRC for about the last 10 years and AERC the last 5. 
 I love both.   NATRC is a great way for a rookie endurance rider to learn 
about taking care of a distance horse.  I have never seen an obstacle that I 
thought was unsafe.  Most of the obstacles that we've had have shown me areas 
that I needed to work on with Harca (i.e. more control!).  I think there is a 
real phobia about being judged on your horsemanship -- but your horsemanship 
DOES affect your horse.  I'd rather figure that out BEFORE what I'm doing 
causes my horse a problem.  I also enjoy the mental challenge of NATRC.  Sure 
its fun to just bee-bop down the trail without a care in the world (other 
than when the next vet check is and if THIS is a good spot to take that 
desperately needed potty break).  However, at an NATRC ride you get breaks in 
all that fun and you get to do an obstacle.  At first, the obstacles are 
(let's face it) kind of humilliating.  But, as the rides progress and your 
skill level increases, you actually start to enjoy showing off this crazy 
horse who used to barely whoa and now can open a gate (with some help from 
you), negotiate a difficult trail with out causing you great bodily harm, and 
just in general demonstrate what a great trail horse he is.  Don't get me 
wrong there is still some humilliation involved every now and then -- 
probably more potential than at an endurance ride -- but it is great fun.  
And, NATRC riders know how to laugh, support, encourage, teach, learn (hmmm, 
sounds like endurance riders too, eh?).

I'm thinking that all these stories about NATRC are based on stuff that 
happened back in the dark ages (pre-1989?). These days, at least in 
California, most obstacles are based on natural terrain and are not contrived 
(this does exclude the two Championship rides I attended in Texas & Colorado 
-- yes, I have to admit some contrived obstacles were seen, but all of those 
horses and riders were up to the challenge.)  If you haven't tried an NATRC 
ride recently, come on out and give it a shot -- it's a hoot!  And, if you 
don't like being judged on your horsemanship---don't read the scorecard!

Sylvia
If you have a 1,000 mile AERC horse come to the NATRC Championship Challenge 
in Santa Ynez, CA 10/22-24, 1999,  2 days/80 miles.  Contact me for an entry.


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