Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Breed Profiling Gold Country

At Mon, 12 Aug 2002 08:32:46 -0700 , "John Maretti" <jmaretti@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
Dear List,
Because I have found endurance people to be so wonderful and helpful and encouraging i was disappointed to learn of my friend's experience at the ride and tie this weekend. Viola and her horse are friends of mine and we have been riding together for 3 years. Viola is a fabulous runner (runs for her college track and cross country team) and I have tried to get her to do a ride and tie with me for a couple of years but our timing has never worked out. This year she and her mother crewed for me at the Tevis and Viola LOVED it. When I found out about the GCRT I encouraged her to do it. Unfortunately I could not do it with her due to a death in my family. So she took her horse and a teammate from her college cross country team who rides. This was all done with great consideration. I was convinced that her stocky, typy (and beautiful) palomino qtr horse could do it. She has been trail riding her all summer (1-3 hour rides 4+ times a week). And recently returned from a long pack trip in the Desolation wilderness. Of all my riding friends 
who do not do endurance she is the one I can ride with and feel that my horse is getting a workout. Indeed her stocky palamino qtr horse could do the RNT.
I got them all set up and advised to go early next morning since Straw had not been to such a competition and we wanted her to be calm and eating and drinking all night.
They finished the race in 7th place and 1st for novice-novice. The horse did wonderful and it was her partner who suffered heat stress at the end.
Viola found some nice helpful people (someone loaned her a ride and tie rope, and the race manager was very helpful) but overall was very sad about the way people interacted with her. She found her vet very rude and condescending in regards to whether this horse could or should be doing the ride and tie. Her partner overheard some competitors call her horse the "endurance cow" which first Viola thought that they were referring to her which was distressing but I think she was even more upset to find that they were referring to her horse.
OK guys we know Arabs excel at these distance events but other breeds can do it too. And Viola just loves her palomino friend and it was a great thing to do together. From what I have noticed ride and tie is not overwhelmed with entries. I hope that in the future we can welcome all breeds and new participants with open, encouraging arms. Viola is 19 and has a lifetime of competing ahead of her. I hope that she decides to compete again, despite some of the negativity she experienced with regards to her choice of mount.
Sincerely,
Tara Rothwell  
>The Official Best Condition Awards for Gold Country:
>
>The Best Condition award for the 50 Mile Endurance Ride was presented to =
>4th Place Finisher Kathie Perry on a 12 year old Arabian, Arr Heart =
>Breaker, owned by M. Hunter.
> =20
>Best Condition for the Ride and Tie was awarded to Elaine Ruprecht and =
>James Holland who were riding Magic Sirrocco and finished in 2nd place.
>
>It has always been GCER's policy to list the 30 Mile Limited Distance =
>Endurance Ride results alphabetically and to not award Best Condition.
>
>Congratulations to all riders.  It was a warm day, so our very =
>experienced Head Vet, Bob Morgan DVM, set the pulse criteria at 60.  =
>Ride and Tie'ers are not use to such a low pulse rate criteria but did =
>an excellent job of taking care of their horses.  Everybody did a great =
>job of keeping their horses cooled down and there was only one treatment =
>for a mild case of Thumps. =20
>
>Complete results may be viewed on the club's website at: www.gcer.org
>
>                   John=20
>

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=