RC: Reply from an educated derelict

[Rides 2 Far <rides2far@juno.com>]

NO, NO,  NO!  Sarah don't leave!!!!!!!!  

I'm sure some people got something from ti's debate, but to me he's
talking a lot about "what goes on in the lab" but I don't get nearly
enough practical examples of how it works out in competition.  I hear
people talk  about how much it helps in competition, but checking some of
their records, I'm going faster than some of them are on plain ol'
sweetfeed and hay.

I'm sure some of this higher level stuff is the reason some people are
ahead of me....HOWEVER, it's not at all unusual for me to see a lengthy
post by a person telling how successful they are at something, when I am
quite familiar with that person in competition and don't really even
think their horse is performing up to "average" standards.  This makes it
very important for people to weigh *all* this advice very carefully.

Sarah, your posts are the ones I really read carefully.  They are well
thought out, supported both by research *and* experience (a very nice
combination if I do say so) and you don't claim to have figured
everything out, you simply let us in on what you've learned lately.

I suppose the fault is in those of us who have not thanked you often
enough for your contributions.  I'm a bit in awe when I can read your
articles in "The Horse" magazine, and then get your personal opinions
right here on ridecamp.  Sort of like a beginning golfer having Tiger
Wood's home phone number and being able to ask a quick question.

There are so many different types of people who compete in endurance, and
we all do it in our own way.  There are some who are geared towards
pushing the envelope and taking risks.  They learn some new things. 
Sometimes they crash big time, but it doesn't seem to faze them too much.
They learn from the experience and carry on.  

Then there are those of us who are more cautious, and simply can't cope
with the idea of taking careless risks.  We make forward progress in baby
steps, but seldom get knocked backwards 10 feet either.  We are bound to
have very different mentors.  I'm glad we're all on the same forum so I
can read their approaches.  It still doesn't mean I'll experiment with
them *yet*.

The last thing we need to do is run off people like Sarah.  So, Sarah,
I'm BEGGING you....say, "I'll lurk for awhile", or "see ya later" but not
"I'm out of here for good."  Don't forget there are about 1,000 people in
"the room" and most of us arel listening attentively.  If there's one
thing I try to do as a teacher, it's avoid "group punishment".  I'm
sitting here being good, teach me. :-)

Angie

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