Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Breed Profiling Gold Country

Hi Tara,

A Quarter Horse won the 50 miler this weekend at the Night Owl Ride.
He won with quite a margin over a very rocky, difficult course.....in
the dark.   He has done other 50's, plus competes in the endurance
driving sport.  His owner told me that he has done most of his fifties
barefoot, also.  I couldn't help but admire this equine athlete and
his owner.

Tell your friend to come on back and ignore the remarks of the
ignorant.   Tell her to bring her QH, too.

Linda Hedgpeth
Susanville, CA
lth@xxxxxxxxxxx

----- Original Message -----
From: <ktrothwl@xxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 10:13 AM
Subject: 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



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