Re: Just what is LD competition?

["Tina Hicks" <tina@autoairbagcovers.com>]

In a message dated 6/20/01 12:10:35 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
smithpr@cadvision.com writes:
.  What is particularly problematic
is that the career LDers, who often go fast to top ten, compete along
side newcomers of all ages and levels of competency.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Okay, I normally keep quiet every time the LD discussion comes up but I hafta pipe in now :)

 

Why is this any different than 2 horses competing in the dressage ring where one is consistently winning First Level Test 4 but competing in First Level Test 3 today for some reason and the other horse is competing in First Level T3 for the very first time?

 

Or two horses in the hunter jumper ring where one has been a solid Amateur/Owner horse for 2 years but the other one is in there for the first time?

 

Or two horses in the cutting pen - one a solid earner and the other just beginning?

 

I could go on but I won't - I think you see my point. Seasoned horses against fresh competitors is part of going out and competing with your horse. And it has nothing to do with LD - in 50s and 100s you get the same thing - horses with many miles on them on the same trail with those just starting a horse or just starting in endurance.

 

I have a real problem with this idea of "leveling the playing field" (in general, not with this particular poster <g>) any more than is needed to make it the competition safe and reasonably equitable for all involved. We all follow the same trail; go through the same vet checks; and have to deal with the same weather. I don't know what else AERC can do (or should do) to make it more "level". If I wanted a level playing field I wouldn't compete - the point of a competition is to see how you and your horse do on a certain day given certain conditions, right? That goal may be personal (reaching a high mileage) or it may be more competitive (placing in the top ten). We all know that at any ride if any ONE condition (vet staff, competition, weather, how well your horse ate, etc...) were different the outcome would probably be different. So, you make it fair enough to give everyone a good start and go from there.

 

This doesn't have a whole lot to do with the LD discussion except that this idea of making the sport equal for everyone always seems to come up along with it. Life isn't exactly equal and fair - how can expect a sport to be so??

 

Tina Hicks

tina@autoairbagcovers.com