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RC: Re: LD and BC



>>No experience, no knowledge - but they ide like the wind and
>> soemtimes win and think they are doing it right, on EVERY new horse
they
>>ride every season:). s


CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com wrote:
>So how does requiring participation on LD's do anything to change this
attitude?

It doesn't unless you change the reward structure of LD rides to
emphasize the horse's condition. Even if you don't change anything about
LD, it also allows ride vets to evaluate a new rider's abilities over a
distance less likely to severely compromise the health of the horse.


>Next thing you know, we'll have mandatory crewing time, mandatory PR
time,
>mandatory classes and clinics in endurance...

Heidi, we're looking for ways to enable new riders to safely get
involved in this sport and still have fun. You're taking a big leap from
a suggestion that a rider complete a few shorter rides to a multitude of
new restrictions that no one suggested. Surely you realize that your
knowledge base is substantially different than all but a small
percentage of newcomers to the sport. Surely you know that the vast
majority of us do not ride range horses for whom an endurance ride is
just another day of work. (Maybe things were different when you first
got involved with the sport.) How many potential new riders today have
your background and knowledge?

In an earlier post you said that you likely would have been turned off
of the sport had you been required to do a few LD rides first. Hmmm...
sounds like a requirement like this would be an endurance test of sorts
for you. ;-)


>To be honest--the information and help are out there, for any who are
of a
>mind to learn (and there are more folks like that in THIS sport than in
just
>about any other discipline I've been around), and there are tighter
>veterinary controls than in any other sport to be advocates of the
horses of
>the folks who do NOT choose to learn and to self-monitor.  I don't
think ANY
>sort of educational "requirements" will change the nature of human
>beings--some WILL learn and some will not.

The information is NOT easily and readily available even if folks want
to learn. I think that people involved with the sport "forever" are just
so accustomed to having the knowledge or at least knowing where to turn
to get it, that they forget that for the newbie, it's often not the
case. Case in point, my barn owner showed up at a local CTR (this is
where I met her). She'd heard about endurance, but was the typical
pleasure rider. She jokes about how she took a sponge for a ride her
first competition because someone tossed it at her at the last minute
and she hadn't a clue what to do with it. She has a desire to learn and
understandably turned to her usual sources to learn more — local vets,
farriers, tack shops, tried to find people she could learn from. If she
wanted to barrel race, dressage or reining, there are plenty of people
to learn from. Not so endurance. She's not big on reading — heck, with 3
kids, who has time and isn't it more fun to spend time with your horse?
Again, one doesn't learn any of the above mentioned equestrian
disciplines out of a book. I don't think endurance is any different.
Since she's in great physical condition, I have no doubt that she could
do 50 milers. She wouldn't be able to get her horse through, though.

As much as the sport is growing, it still isn't mainstream. We're at a
crossroads where we have a tremendous opportunity here. Let's be
progressive and forward thinking and think about what we can do to help
the typical pleasure rider interested in this sport do it safely. Those
are the horses most at risk. If a few "range riders" are turned off of
the sport should 25 milers ever be required ... well????

Deanna (admitted newbie, but one who is lucky enough to have lots of
resources)





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