Posted today on a mostly Dressage Riders' BB . . .

[RISTREE@aol.com]

I copied this to Ridecamp, not to start a debate, but because I thought some 
of you might be better able to eloquently answer it than I did.  If this 
perception is out there about our sport, who better than some of us to defend 
it to someone who holds this view?  If you'd like to respond to this person's 
bulletin board post, drop me a line at this address, and I'd be glad to mail 
you the URL.  (You can either post on the BB, or email the author of this 
directly.)  Here goes:

***

I really loathe this sport. If I am ignorant of its' value, then maybe 
someone can make me see the light.

I just finished reading my latest issue of the Chronicle. In it, was an 
article about a May 100 mile ride in in Atlanta or Alabama (I forget). 
Anyway, the temperature was 100 degrees. Twelve people did this race. Some 
other entries dropped out due to the heat. I don't know how many actually 
finished.

I just don't understand it. The last couple days in N.J. were hot and humid 
(80+% humidity and 80+ temps). I didn't ride. This wasn't because "I" 
couldn't take it, but rather because I knew my horse would suffer. Both my 
horses are stressed just standing in their stalls with fans.

I won't buy the rationale that the endurance horses are fit and can stand the 
heat. I think those 100 mile races are abusive.

All the horse sports at the highest level have the potential of presenting 
some form of abuse because they push the horse to it's limits. But most only 
make the horse 'suffer' briefly. This 100 mile race puts a horse through 
stress for a long time.

I am not so closed minded that I won't try to understand this sport. But it 
will take some strong convincing to make me see its' value. Anyone even care 
to try? 

***

Again, no sense debating this here!  We all obviously see the benefit of 
endurance riding!  <chuckle>  Just drop me a line if you'd like the URL to 
respond to this post.

Thanks.

--Patti (who sometimes has a hard time remembering why she's doing so many 
20m circles!)