Re: RC: caused enough trouble, yet?!

[Jim Holland <lanconn@tds.net>]

Cindy..

Your record speaks for itself.  However, IMHO, you need to broaden your
perspective a little.  First, the membership voted to have a National
Championship Ride.  The qualifications are evolving a little right now,
since the RM was trying to make the ride profitable enough to stand on
its own.  As participation increases, so will the qualifications.  Just
like the ROC this year.

This is not the HMERC (Hundred Mile Endurance Ride Conference), it's the
AERC....and 100 milers are in the minority.  If you want only 100 mile
rides, then suggest you start a HMERC....but you better have some funds
to support it, because the LD riders and the 50 milers are the ones who
provide the financial support so you can have 100 mile rides. I have
NEVER done a one day 100 mile ride. (I have done a 75, and multiday 100)
If I NEVER do one, doesn't bother me at all. I have a great deal of
respect for those of you who love 100 miles rides, but I would rather
compete on a sound horse who does well in 50's than a marginal horse in
100's and maybe potentially ask him to compete beyond his capability and
injure him.  My little guy means a lot to me....horses are not
"disposable".  He would give until there is nothing left...in fact give
it all. It's MY responsibility to see he doesn't give everything.  I'm
not into "push him till he fails, then cash him in and find another
one". Does that make me less of an "Endurance Rider" than you? A "second
class citizen" just because I don't do 100's? I'm not saying I never
will...I hope to do OD, at least.....and maybe Tevis if I can afford
it....but only if I feel I can do it on a sound horse. 

I have a challenge for you. You come down to North Georgia, bring the
BEST horse you got, and ride MY trails in the Cohutta Wilderness for a
day under MY conditions at MY speed...and we'll SEE who has the BEST
horse in the "heat, hills, and humidity". It's all relative.  There are
MANY factors involved in deciding who's the "Best". Trail conditions,
weather, humidity, heat, sand, mud, hills, rocks, etc. Heather's horse
Red "smoked 'em" at the PAN AM...but didn't do all that well at the
NCR.  Some horses are great on a "flat track", but just can't handle the
hills.  The rider is also a factor. If you can get off and run with your
horse, or tail him up a hill, etc....all are contributing factors. The
playing field is NOT level....by DESIGN...which is what ENDURANCE is all
about!

Like many Limited Distance Riders, and AERC members who prefer 50 mile
rides, I ride within my horse's capabilities and my own. I am not big on
proving who is "THE NATIONAL CHAMPION"...too many variables. I finished
12th Lightweight in the 50 at the NCR and am PROUD of it.  Better horses
and riders than Sunny and I DIDN'T FINISH! I FINISHED and I WON....and
we had a great time! I only have ONE Endurance Horse...but in MY eyes
he's a National Champion.  I'm as proud of him as if he hand won the
ROC. Doesn't that count for anything?  Doesn't that meet the
qualifications for a National Championship?  Remember our motto? "To
Finish is to Win"?  IMHO, you've lost sight of that. 

I have no problem with LD miles included in qualification for NCR...for
now...but we need to raise the bar in future years. Why don't you try
one? You might like it. There were some damn good horses in the
100...who not only didn't win, but didn't finish.  You have my PERSONAL
invitation to attend next years NCR. Come down early, stay at my place
in North Georgia, and I will haul your horse to the ride...we'll crew
for you. Might even be convinced to pay your entry fee just to prove my
point....and we'll cheer for you to WIN and be the 100 Mile National
Champion.

The NCR moves around the country and gives everyone the opportunity to
compete in a "class" ride, including us 50 mile "poor cousins".  Give it
a chance....it's a ride for all Endurance Riders and an inspiration for
the Limited Distance Riders to move up.

And...why do you say the membership is not excited about the NCR? Most
comments on Ridecamp have been positive. I've seen very few negative
comments.....and most of those from people who didn't attend.

Jim, Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada Magic  

guest@endurance.net wrote:
> 
> Cindy Collins sunsetrim@hotmail.com
> My friends say I've caused enough trouble, but since I'm a teacher of
> emotionally disturbed adolescents, I have a higher than average tolerance
> for chaos and dissension!
> So, I just have to add a couple of closing commentsquestions about the
> storm I helped to generate over our national championship events.  First,
> I have a question/clarification.  Somewhere in this discussion, someone
> said something about LD miles being used to qualify for the  NC.  Did I
> understand that correctly?  Would someone clarify?  Secondly, I want to
> tell the people who lamented their lack of 100 mile rides...look in the
> mirror.  You, as riders, need to demand 100 mile rides and then attend
> them.  No ride manager wants to go to all of the extra trouble, and it is
> a lot of trouble, to put on a 100 miler and then have 4 entries!  Become a
> mentor for folks who want to try a 100 and are afraid.  Ask for elevator
> 100s to get new folks to try the longer distance.  However, there is one
> other thought...when the ROC  (and I don't mean to say I think it was the
> end all...there were problems, it was just the best thing I've ever seen
> for head to head competition among the greatest horses and riders the
> sport had to offer) was at its peak, riders demanded that 100 milers were
> held and many new 100s were created, JUST SO PEOPLE COULD QUALIFY FOR THE
> ROC.  It was held in that much esteem.  I haven't heard a single person
> say, "Oh, let's put on more 100s so we can qualify for the National
> Championship ride."  However, within a week of the annoucement that the
> ROC might return, one of our local ride managers promised to put on a 100
> miler in conjunction with our 50s so people could get qualified for the
> ROC.  People can argue until they are blue in the face, but it won't
> change the reality that AT THIS POINT, the membership is not that excited
> about the AERC National Championship.  The name recognition thing that has
> been brought up over and over is the best example of making that point.
> Also, as I've said privately, the toughest thing about this discussion, is
> that it's impossible to discuss this issue without hurting people's
> feelings and that  is not the point at all.  It is not necessarily
> "personal agenda", either.  I won a national championship in 1990 under
> one of the many newer versions of that event.  I never completed the ROC.
> I don't know if I ever will, but that doesn't change my feelings about
> what a championship should look like.  I really do appreciate everyone who
> has responded, both pro and con, because it's not about me or my opinion,
> it's about what we envision as a true National Champion horse/rider team.
> Thanks for listening.  Cindy Collins, AERC #176
>