Why I do LD rides

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

sindy  winchesterconstruction@msn.com
I just wanted to put my 2 cents worth in.  I have only been on 
2 LD rides.....so far....my daughter and I joined AERC this year
and plan to do a few this year.  We did our first ride in '98. I had been in an horse related accident that year and hadn't been riding much, but my daughter (15 years old-then) wanted to try it and needed a sponsor so I went with her and another young girl.  It was a real eye opener for me.  I had been on the back of a horse for 36 years but never realized just how far 25 miles really was.  We finished almost dead last, but had a great time.  This past year we did the Comstock ride again and had a blast!  We finished 13th and 14th and felt really good about our ride and the health of our horses.  I had so much fun being out on my new gelding with my daughter and so many other nice people.  There were LD riders out there that shouldn't have been pushing their horses that hard, but I can also say there were probably riders doing the 50 that shouldn't have been out there either!  The thing I like the most about doing these rides is the time spent with my daughter.  How many moms can say that they really enjoy being with their teenager!  I look forward to going on a few rides this year, camping out with my daughter and enjoying her company.  I hope that the real endurance riders out there won't think of us as a "pain in the butt".  We love our horses and know how to pace them so that they aren't stressed.   We get out of the way when we see another rider coming up behind or in front of us.  We alway say "to your left" and have never run up on someone and caused them or their horse any problem.  I don't think I will ever be a "real" endurance rider, doing 50's,....but who knows my daughter might like to continue with this sport and maybe someday she will look back at those "lowly" LD rides and remember the wonderful time she had with her mother.  This is why some of us like to to LD's.