Re: LD vs Endurance

["Mike Sofen" <miksof7@gte.net>]

Man o Man o Man.  The horse world is filled with victims, and the endurance
world has concentrated that essence into a potent brew.  Nobody can me feel
like a second class citizen unless I want to feel like a second class
citizen.  If someone is behaving towards me in an inappropriate manner,
then I can choose to provide feedback to the situation, or I can ignore it.
 No matter what, it's up to ME to figure out how I'm going to deal with it,
and be responsible for my choices.

I haven't been around endurance enough to make a make a definitive
statement, but here in the Pacific Northwest, every endurance person I've
met has been a  fine human, and that's the vision I choose to hold in my
brain.  Competitive events raise adreneline and other bio-items, just let
it go and enjoy the ride. 

Mike Sofen
Seattle, WA

----------
> From: Lancette M Koerner <lancette@juno.com>
> To: ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: LD vs Endurance
> Date: Wednesday, April 01, 1998 6:31 PM
> 
> In response to Wendy Merendini
> 
> The issue of LD riders feeling like second class citizens is really not
> SILLY.  It is not a feeling within ourselves.  It is projected on us by
> others!
> When I started riding LD I never felt so good.  Just finishing with my
> horse in great condition was so exciting!  It wasn't until I had been
> around for awhile, and I started hearing the negative talk that I
> realized there were folks out there looking down on me because I ride LD.
>   I was shocked!   This hasn't change my feelings about LD just makes me
> angry at the folks who are making LD riders feel ashamed  of what they
> are doing instead of recognizing them for accomplishment.  There are so
> many people out there who get sucked into this snobbish attitude, and
> don't want to do an LD ride because they have been told its not a  "real"
> ride.     I know of people who have gone out and done a 50 for their
> first endurance ride.  The result , disaster!   The definition of
> Endurance is "The act, quality or power of withstanding hardship or
> stress."  I guarantee,  that even after 5 months of training 4-5 times a
> week,   after our  first LD ride my horse qualified as having done an
> endurance ride.    It is a matter of perspective.  When I started doing
> LD, I had a hard time believing that someday we would be doing 50 mile
> rides.  Well, now after two years of LD I believe we can do it and we 
> will be moving up.  The experiences we have had in the LD rides has been
> critical to this new found belief and ability.   I would not recommend
> anyone start out with a 50 miler for their horses sake.  No matter how
> good of condition their horse is in.  There is just to much to learn for
> both horse and rider that no book can tell you.  You've just got to take
> time and experience it.   
> 
> I want to see LD recognized and awarded for what it is a " LD Endurance
> ride."   How would the 50 mile riders feel if they no longer received
> placements because, after all, a 50 is just a training ride for a 100
> right?  To those moving up to 100's it is but I bet there are a great
> number of 50 mile riders who will never move to 100's.  Likewise in the
> LD rides.  Why not recognize these horses and riders.  Of course an LD is
> not the same as a 50 or a 100, but for a lot of folks it is as much
> endurance as they will ever know.  Lets encourage folks to come into our
> sport by first showing them that they can be successful and be rewarded
> in the LD before we encourage them to move up.  For those who are capable
> it is natural to want to move up.  After our LD ride this weekend I was
> surprised at how easy it seemed, but I am sure many many people on that
> ride did not feel the same way.  I am sure once I have begun doing 50's a
> LD will no longer be an endurance ride to me.  But it is to the people
> riding them and they should be recognized by receiving placement and
> awards at every ride just like the 50 mile riders do.
> 
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