Re: Endurance..Tri-athlete

[Teddy Lancaster <Teddy@runningbear.com>]

Yup, we now have a new sport..the endurance tri-athlete.  Part one: catch horse,
part two: saddle horse, part three: mount horse.

Hey, everybody lighten up!!!!

teddy


Trishmare@aol.com wrote:

> Dear Rebecca,
>
> << To all of you that have tryed to flame me!!!  I know alot of people that
>  are handicaped
>  do YOU want to tell them that riding even 1 mile is not endurance.>>
>
>      Yes, I would, if they asked me.  Life is not fair, and trying to
> legislate fairness into it never works.  If there was a mentally handicapped
> individual who just LOVED medicine, and dreamed of being a surgeon, but just
> could not ever possibly get through the required schooling, or pass the
> required exams, should we, in the name of preserving his "feelings" just say,
> aw, shucks!  His heart's in the right place!  He can't help it he was born
> handicapped . . . go ahead and give him a surgeon's license anyway.  Would you
> want him to operate on you?  Live is wonderful, but it is not and never has
> been fair.
>
>  >> I
>  know several people that it is an endurance to just get up on the horses
>  back!! <<
>
>      I commend them in their efforts.  But until they have ridden a 50 mile
> race, (actually, a 50 is half a race, but . . .) they are NOT endurance
> riders.  This does not make them any LESS important as human beings, it does
> mean they have not yet, and perhaps will never, EARN the distinction of
> calling themselves an "endurance rider."
>
> >> Please don't be so strick with what you claim to be endurance.
>  To some people it is a major feat. just to get up there.
>  Try to think more about  peoples feelings befor you jump in with your
>  fingers. <<
>
>     If people are so insecure in themselves that they need a false title, and
> a meaningless trophy, HANDED to them, in order that they may feel they have
> accomplished something, then there is little my words could ever do to them.
> They are already damaged beyond my ability to further harm . . .
>
> >>Some Think that just getting up there is enought. <<
>
>      "Some" is wrong.  Wishing a thing to be so, does not make it so.  I think
> that Michigan State University should have awarded me a veterinarian's license
> even though I only spent one year in it.  It really hurt my feelings to see
> all those other students who stayed the required years get one, and know that
> I wanted one too.  Michigan State did not agree, apparently.  Too bad, I love
> horses. That enough should have made me a great horse vet, don't you think?
>
> >> Do you want
>  to go out there and tell the people that because they couldn't finish a
>  1 or more mile ride that they couldn't finish!!!!  Give them a break!<<
>
>      People, if you cannot finish a one mile ride, you are no endurance rider.
> In fact, I'd go as far as saying you are no rider.  I don't care what the
> reason is that you can't do more than that.  You might be the next Mother
> Teresa, but you arn't an endurance rider.
>
> >> Not everybody has the musles to do what you do.<<
>
>       And I don't have the muscles to compete in a triathalon. But gosh, I
> sure would like to call myself a triathelete.  I think I should get an award
> for being a triathalete!!!  It isn't MY fault I don't have the muscles, time,
> and determination to go out and earn the title.  Why should I be punished for
> that?  I mean, I know that if I'm GIVEN the title, it does belittle the pain,
> will, achievement etc, of true triatheletes, but well, better a few elite
> atheletes achievements get belittled, than the rest of us get our feelings
> hurt, isn't it?
>
> >> Some have to do what
>  they can. I for one am not going to tell that person that they can't
>  compete in ENDURANCE riding because they can't even saddle their horse
>  (just because they don't have control of their musles)  If they have the
>  courage to do it why should people like you think you are being put
>  down.<<
>
>       Rebecca dear, I do not feel put down!!!  You see . . . I am not an
> endurance rider.  I badly WANT to be one!!!!  But thus far, I have not had the
> time, money, and apparently enough desire (because if the desire was there,
> I'd find the time, and the money, now wouldn't I?) to compete in a 50 mile or
> above race.  Some day I will.  But I do not want to be handed a meaningless
> title.  I will be called an endurance rider the old fashioned way . . . by
> EARNING  the right, or I will not be called an endurance rider.  I am secure
> enough in my person to not need to be handed an unearned title, just to feel
> I've accomplished something.
>
>  >> Maybe, because this other person is handicapped! Are you that
>  insucure that you have to put down other people that are not in ""as
>  good of condition as you are"" <<
>
>      I put no one down.  If you took it that way, then you have the insecurity
> problem, not me.  And maybe you should work on dealing with that.  I'm afraid
> I can't much help you there.
>
> >>Give everybody a break and not be so
>  condiming because you have more money or musles! <<
>
>       I condemed no one.  Please re-read my post.  I merely stated the
> obvious.
>
> >> Because if that is
>  what endurance riding or limited distance riding is all about then I'm
>  not for it. <<
>
>       You sound like you'd be happier in something less difficult.  I agree.
>
> >>If you have the courage to go out and try it no matter what
>  distance you can do WHAT does that hurt to say you are an endurance
>  rider! <<
>
>      It belittles the effort, pain, drive, courage or whatever it is that
> drives the TRUE endurance rider to ready a ride a horse for a One Hundred mile
> ride.  It belittles the entire idea of ACHIEVEMENT.  It belittles life itself
> . . .
>
> >>Endurance just means that you had what it takes to endure, what
>  ever milage you do. <<
>
>      You had what it takes to "endure" a one mile ride?  Or a quarter mile
> ride?  Or saddling the horse?  Why not give an endurance title for just
> getting out of bed in the morning?
>
> >> And I dout that these people will conflict with
>  what you are doing if anything but talking with your fingers.
>  Most handicaped people can talk real good with their fingers too.<<
>
>      Yes I know.  I've a few handicapped friends.  They are good people, and
> some even ride horses.   None of them wish to be handed anything they didn't
> earn, and all of them acknowledge that there are some things they just cannot
> do, some prizes they will not earn.  All of them would be insulted in the
> extreme if you offered to "give" them the prize, just because they are
> handicapped.  Most of them would tell you, you insult them with the very idea
> . . .
>
> >> I have my flame retardent suit on too, But my heart is with the people
>  that to ride a mile is to Finish!!  To Finish Is To Win!!!  No matter
>  how far!!!!!!
>  Rebecca >><
>
>       Well, I guess you should contact AERC and see if we can start getting
> listings and prizes and titles for these one mile long "endurance" rides . . .
>
> Trish Marie,
> Grand Blanc, Michigan
>