RE: Different milage buckets - end of topic

[Lynne Glazer <lynne@glazer.org>]

Been thinking about this topic a lot.  Dreamed about it last night, 
all this talk about placement, and in the dream, my horse got stolen 
by a ride volunteer after accidentally finishing first in an LD in a 
place where that "counted"! <sheesh>  And I spent the remainder of 
the dream running around ridecamp and the town it was in, yelling my 
horse's name. <g>

I thought that for me, ego wasn't part of it, so maybe needing to 
"complete" was.  I've been doing LD this year for a variety of 
reasons, pulled at 25 on the one 50 we tried this year due to a mild 
colic (the horse's, not mine).

If my ego wasn't involved, why wouldn't I enter more 50s, and just 
pull after the requisite "conditioning" had been met (if checks are 
in camp)?  Is it because of the higher entry fee?  Nope, it's not 
that much more.  Is it the "stigma" of not completing?  Yep--the ego 
surfaces--I don't want to say, my horse has done x 50s and pulled at 
any number over a handful over a career's length.  Though I would be 
very comfortable in pulling if it's the best thing for the horse, 
less so if it's the best thing for me, am not the type to keep going 
"no matter what".  We have already racked up a pull record on 50s 
that include a close encounter of the worst kind with cholla cactus, 
and vandalism of course markings in the pouring rain.

Well, since June of this year, the limit has been mine, not my 
horse's--I don't think my neck would stand up to a slow 50.  So I'm 
feeling better about WHY we're out doing LD.  Just to get out there 
and ride a marked course with controls, it sure isn't to teach my 
horse anything, any longer.  She knows (and likes) the game, and sure 
isn't dismayed to not leave camp after "lunch".  It sure isn't about 
lifetime mileage.  Guess I care more about lifetime "completions" 
than lifetime mileage.  Maybe that won't be the case in 10 years...

Lynne
time to send that Sunland entry in

Ontario, CA  http://www.lynnesite.com
Norco Riverdance Ride (PS) 9/2/00
and Rem-member Me, Celesteele



At 1:47 PM -0500 11/7/99, CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 11/7/99 10:41:48 AM Pacific Standard Time,
>sbrown@wamedes.com writes:
>
><<  This is
> the attraction of the schooling shows!  They don't count towards anything
> except experience...a "getting ready" to ride, often the EXACT same test,
> in a sanctioned show. >>
>
>Always thought that was the "attraction" of an LD, too--you don't have to
>admit that you came out, entered, and DIDN'T do 50!!  <g>
>
>Seriously, I like the analogy of "getting ready" to ride.  You came, you rode
>25, and it is good practice toward being able to do an endurance ride.  More
>power to you, and thank goodness the learning opportunity is there.
>
>Heidi
>
>
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=