Re: Manners/LD riders Hahira

["Joan Ruprecht" <ruprecht@tidepool.com>]

You must have a different ride course than me, I ride tons and a 6 hour
completion time is VERY FAST.  I've had your "do the back of the pack slow
ride starting both new horses and new riders", it can be very frightening
trying to stay sane.

Joan No. Calif. Redwoods
-----Original Message-----
From: guest@endurance.net <guest@endurance.net>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Monday, November 15, 1999 6:31 AM
Subject: RC: Manners/LD riders Hahira


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


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