National Campionship ride

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Christian Love clove@lincpfp.com
I just returned from one of the most exciting and challenging rides that my horse, Althea and I have had the opportunity to ride.  I thouroughly enjoyed the race - so did my horse.  Althea and I came in second with a ride time of 4:14.  It was the first time that she has ever gotten "tired" during a ride.  Although, I am happy to say that within three hours after the finish, Althea was dragging me around the field where I was trying to keep up with walking her, tossing her head, eating with a vengance and playing in the river.

I was excited to come home to read the comments about the National Champioship.  But, when I finally had a chance to get to my e-mails, I read whining, bickering and complaints instead of excitement, comradery, and congratulations.

I would love to have gotten points for the race (especially for the level of competition and the difficulty of the course), I would have loved for it to have been on the east coast were I would not have had to drive 22 hours to get there, I would have liked to have had more riders competing.  But, in my eyes, it was still a championship ride - it still provided top-level competition from a top-notch group of horses and riders, a challenging trail, beautiful location, helpful vets and good management.

I am proud to know that I have had the opportunity to compete in a National Championship and hope to be able to compete in another one next year.

I believe we need to make next year's championship more recognized so that more of the top horses and riders will feel that it is "worth" their time and effort to compete.  And on my own personal note:  I would like to have it in the East next year - maybe alternate between east coast and west coast for the annual championship ride.

Most of all, I want to thank AERC for providing the opportunity for fifty milers to have a Championship head to head - horse to horse race.  And I hope all horses who competed came home healthy, happy and ready to go again.


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