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Some of us are hungry for the kind of education that Frank
described...and immensely grateful to experienced endurance riders who are
willing to be mentors (whether on conditioning rides or via e-mail).
Stories can be educational, whether they describe successes or
failures. It's a bonus if the story writer is gifted enough
to compose an account that's also entertaining. But we don't
enjoy stories about how much fun it was to put a horse at risk because
the rider couldn't be bothered to invest in properly preparing
that horse.
We want to learn to be good stewards
of these animals we're asking to do so very much for us.
Cindy
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 29, 2002 2:04
AM
Subject: Re: [RC] Hahira, Part
Five/Purpose of Ridecamp
Type A? Analytical? "Ya gotta have heart, Just a litttle bit of
heart...
Environmentally sterilizing.
No offense, but I need color ! not
grays.......
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, November 28, 2002 6:31
AM
Subject: Re: [RC] Hahira, Part
Five/Purpose of Ridecamp
If it is the purpose of "Ridecamp" to
share information and experiences as they relate to the sport of Endurance
racing/riding...
If it is the purpose of "Ridecamp" to
share what each of us has learned over the years, over the miles, from the
horses, from each other, from our successes, from our failures, from other
riders...
...I think all that happens for riders who,
due to the circumstances of their lives, "ride" vicariously through the
rides described on Ridecamp. And, I hope one day many of them can ride
an endurance ride in their region, or out of their region successfully
applying what they've learned to "get them there."
If
someone relates their experiences at rides that don't always end up well for
the horse, their aspirations or goals, much can still be learned from that,
too.
It can be difficult to read about struggling
horses, horses out of control, riders with egos out of control, horses
suffering unexpected trials on the the trails...but all that is part of the
fabric of this forum, the nature of this sport.
Often,
it seems to me, that the riders who have "succeeded" in this sport, on a
variety of horses, in a variety of regions don't spend the words necessary
to help convey what it is that they have learned, experienced and survived
while growing in this sport.
Many do. Their
advice is invaluable and should be read and reread.
Of
those that do, they don't seem to "sensationalize" their rides. They
relate the trail, the horse, the day, etc. in hopes of helping new riders,
veteran riders, et.al., to learn about trails, conditions, shoeing
techniques, etc. and their effect on the day. Exchanging
information.
I wish we could continue to
that.
It may not be as "entertaining" as hyperbole,
metaphor and allegory, but it is invaluable.
There are
members of this list, who, when they care to relate their experiences in
Endurance, relate information gleaned from the number of miles and years
that could almost make that information "empirical" in
nature.
I'd hope they would continue to help newbies
(and veterans), especially those newbies who consider themselves
"veterans"...
...though their horses know the
difference.
HAPPY
THANKSGIVING...
Frank
Solano
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