Re: RC: First 50

[Jim Holland <lanconn@tds.net>]

 Kat...

Whew...good post...

I'm glad we finally agree on something! <grin>

Regards, Jim

guest@endurance.net wrote:
> 
> K S SWIGART   katswig@earthlink.net
> 
> Jim Holland said:
> 
> > You don't HAVE to finish that first 50....
> 
> I would like to emphasize this point, especially to all the
> people who have said that it is too much of a risk to start a
> rider in endurance on a 50 miler instead of doing some LD rides.
> 
> While I understand and support the fact that ride managers
> like to provide LD rides for those people who do not (for
> whatever reason) want to ride their horses 50 miles, I think
> it is important to note that NOBODY is required to finish their
> ride.  A rider can stop 25 miles into the ride if they so choose,
> trail access permitting (more on that below).
> 
> As an example.  This past January, the Fire Mountain Ride
> provided three distances: 15, 30, and 50.  The 50 mile ride
> consisted of three loops: a 15 mile loop, a second 15 mile loop,
> and a 20 mile loop.  The 30 mile ride consisted of the first
> two 15 mile loops.  The 15 mile ride consisted of only the
> first 15 mile loop.
> 
> The only differences between riding the 30 mile LD ride and riding
> the 50 mile ride and stopping after the first two loops were
> the time of day that you started, a slightly longer hold for
> the LD riders (but there is nothing that says you had to leave
> the vet check at your out time if you were riding the 50), and
> the completion award you got (or didn't get as is the case with
> stopping before finishing the 50) at the end (a folding chair).
> 
> The only differences between riding the 15 mile introductory ride
> and stopping after riding the first loop of the 50 mile ride were
> the time of day you started and the completion award you got (or
> didn't get) at the end (something other than a chair, but I can't
> remember what).
> 
> So...if you were going because you wanted the prize, then, yes
> it is important to enter the shorter distance ride.
> 
> If, however, you are going in order to train either horse or
> rider in the proper care of horse, proper pacing for an
> endurance ride, experiencing camping (all horses of all distances
> were in the same camp), etc., then entering the 50 and being
> required to evaluate your and your horse's condition and
> then determining whether you both are "fit to continue" is
> probably a better option.
> 
> Yes, it is discouraging for novice riders (this matters to the
> riders only, the horse neither knows nor cares whether it
> "completed" the ride) not to "win" their first ride, but, I
> contend that it may actually be a better venue for novice riders
> to have to "dive in" by entering a 50 and being instructed that
> one of and endurance rider's responsibilities is to constantly
> evaluate the horse's condition and to stop before the end if
> necessary (and that, yes, doing so means you have to forego
> the prize--which, in the overall scheme of things, is pretty
> meaningless).  And being told by ride management and the vets
> that they are there to assist riders in doing this.
> 
> For me, the mark of a good endurance rider is one who knows
> when to stop, even if it is before the end. And I see no reason
> that novice riders cannot begin learning this lesson at their
> first ride--partially because I think it is probably THE MOST
> important lesson for an endurance rider.
> 
> However, and here is where the "trail access permitting" thing
> comes in, novice riders would do well to plan their first events
> to be those (like the Fire Mountain Ride), that make stopping
> before then end easier (unlike the old Outlaw Trail :)).
> 
> And ride managers who want to attract novice riders can do so
> by providing them with helpful vets, education and support, rather
> than giving them short rides.
> 
> Participating in short rides neither an endurance rider nor an
> endurance horse makes.  Stopping before the end if either horse
> or rider is not fit to continue (and understanding that that
> decision fall firmly on the rider's shoulders) does.
> 
> kat
> Orange County, Calif.
> 
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-- 
Richard T. "Jim" Holland                 Phone:  (706) 258-2830
LANCONN, Inc.                            FAX:    (706) 632-1271
Three Creeks Farm			 INTERNET:  lanconn@tds.net
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Blue Ridge, GA 30513