ridecamp@endurance.net: ROC & Other

ROC & Other

guest@endurance.net
Sun, 12 Oct 1997 21:26:12 -0700 (PDT)

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From: Debbie Zanot
Email: mrwallet@key-net.net
I just joined Ridecamp, but I have been snooping through reading for months. Now I would like
to address the subject of the recent ROC which my friend and long time riding companion
Loretta Wazelle and Zeus (Brasosrom) won . I particularly enjoyed Rodger R."s comments
about western PA/Oh riders. Nice touch Rodger, but sounds more like a legend, or a myth, but
still a kind of back handed flattery.

Not all of us buy our horses from the killer pen. Zeus was one of those many Arabians that
people buy and keep in ther back yard for 5 or 6 years because they like horses, but do not
understand Arabians and are afraid of them. Loretta worked long and hard to get to where she
did, and with Zeus at the age of 18 she figured ,as did we all ,that she had to go for it! Take the
gamble etc. because for many of us the ROC is a distant dream somewhere out west that we
never can afford to go to. If at any point in the race she thought her horse was tiring or "not right"
she would have had sense to back off. I have ridden many races with Loretta, and she is not a
"Balls to the Wall" rider. Only when she knows it is her horses day, and by God, the ROC was
Zeus"s day. The 2 day format for a RACE is not ideal for horses or riders. If you want to win
you have to take the chance of making time the first day or you're at the mercy of fate..How
many horses get pulled. etc. For the rider it is mentally grueling.
Danielle's beautiful Cash whom we all admire (I had tears in my eyes watching the video of him
in Holland running down those horrendous streets) was not 100% starting the race, and Joe
DeAngelo's horse got pulled because his back was sore, because Joe himself was in agony and
riding crooked from a strained Achilles tendon. However Zeus's heart rate recovery was faster
than either horse, and always is fast, because Loretta keeps him in top condition, and does not
over compete in a season. Horses do need rest. As far as Zane Grey, I was glad a west coast
horse could hang in there, because maybe that will encourage more western people to ride next
year's ROC.

I would like to see the ROC be a 1-day 100. Loretta and I rode the 1-day 100 at FT.
Armstrong just to complete and placed 3 & 4th and it was not treacherous or extremely difficult
to ride at night, and a comfortable pace too. At least with a 1 day 100 you can use stradegy.
Susan has had many people tell her the same thing, but it falls on deaf ears..Why?

Who else thinks it is ridiculous for the IAHA National Championship Race to be sucking the tit
of the ROC??? The people with Sweepstakes horses should rise up and rebel. The IAHA
should have their race separate and not taking a back seat to the ROC. I almost felt sorry for the
IAHA people. ELK VALLEY would gladly offer our trails for that ride..
Well for a first session I have said enough..
Debbie Zanot

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