Manners/LD riders Hahira

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

Jean Wonser cpfjean@bellsouth.net
I had an experience Sat. I would like to share  from Hahira GA, as
it may shed some light on why some of us get concerned
over manners of other riders.

CPF Thunder was making his first competition ever and I made
arrangements to ride with a SC riding buddy the whole ride.  We
were starting entirely behind the  rest of the Fifty mile Entry,
over fifty horses.  In fact we waited another five minutes to be
certain some dork would not come up behind us at a gallop even
then.

Our deal was to ride boot to boot, head to tail and insure that
the insecure Thunder would have a positive experience and complete
with a solid  attitude.  (the starting point for any decent
endurance horse)

Well we were about twenty feet behind Buddy when the leading
LD riders thundered up probably l4 miles out --  more than
three but probably  around
 six--I am not sure as too much happened  in the few seconds.

Thunder immediately bolted for Buddy and Revels.  I got him back
under control and turned him to the rear and started backwards
on the narrow (barely two horse wide) trail.  At that point he
froze, seeing the oncoming herd, and refused my leg signals to
move to the side and allow them passing room.  He was basically
frozen in the middle of the path.

By then there was no time to do anything except remain in place as
they were upon us.  One of the women made a sarcastic remark of
which
I cannot reproduce the tone in writing.  None asked if I was ok,
If the horse was ok, or anything.  They just roared past.

Fortunately since I had a partner Thunder came back under
a semblance of control.  He did remain jacked up for some time
even though we were moving at a brisk pace.  (we were at the 17 mile
check in about two hours)

The winner of the LD 25 was at the  Finish PR in 1:52 so it is
clear they were not interested in the welfare of the rearguard of
the Fifty mile competition-most of whom are in the rear for
very definate reasons, often on young horses/unexperienced.

It goes without saying that a 1:52 twenty five miles is not much
short of a demolition derby.  So does that answer some of the
question about why some Endurance riders do not respect
some LD riders?  Please notice the qualifying 'SOME'.

  We had a great ride basically, the horse
learned a lot.  The six hours was the minimum I
had planned as  a six to seven hour window for a first fifty
was  what I was aiming.  He looked solid Sunday and again today.

Thanks for listening and ride safe--the first rule.

Jean Wonser
AERC 5352  FL


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