Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Tammy,

 

What a great write up.  This is exactly what I needed to hear after such a great training ride my wife and I had today.  We trailered up to LeatherWood Mountains here in North Carolina about 70miles from my house.  You may have read Howards write up on the LeatherWood Extreme Challenge that was last month.  What a great place to ride and train.  One of the toughest places here in the SE that a ride is held at.   I upgraded to the 50miler, even though I had finished my first 55 the week before in South Carolina.  Finishing just 25miles didn't seem like it was going to be enough.  I was not sure if my mare and I were going to finish the 50, but darn it if we weren't going to try.  I did end up pulling at about 35 miles because my mare was tired and I didn't want to push her anymore.  I was proud of us for trying though as a team.  The challenge and goal is on now to finish the 50 and get that belt buckle next year.  So we're already up there training.&nbs p; Though now I'm on a 5y/o Arab/QH gelding that is amazing.

 

I am envious sometimes of your rides out West that I read about and see pictures of.  What I wouldn't give someday to fly out and ride someones horse in any of those rides....Tevis, Hog Wild,  Virginia City......someday I will.

 

Tim in North Carolina

 

Trailrite@xxxxxxx wrote:

>        I wanted to sort of speak my feelings on this subject and this is sort of off-the-wall.  I think that quite a few riders choose these days a ride to go to that has minimum challenges time after time. It seems that riders are selecting rides with none of the above mentioned tittles.  Riders need to view a few things a little different when entering this sport.  First of all, endurance is put on trails with hills, rocks, mud, sand, water crossings, wind, rain, hail, snow, etc. Not to mention, grass, flowers, views, trees, lakes, streams, waterfalls, etc.  This is the wonder of trail riding isn't it?
>        If you as a rider want to not do so, then this sport may not be for you.  After all, you might have to get hot, cold, tired, have to get off and climb uphill, downhill, get yo
> ur feet muddy, get wet, have a sun burn and chapped lips, etc...you get the picture.  But with all of that said, one thing you are is ALIVE and out there with your horse as a partner and companion.
>        Each ride has trails in that area for that ride with tuff spots no matter what ride it is.  A rider will actually complain about the rocks or the climbs, wind or, etc....  And Yes, maybe you might want to start with an easier ride then work your way into a harder ride later.  That's understandable.  But we aren't seeing this much anymore.
>        Your horse is capable of doing cross county because a horse is built for this sort of ability with a good rider.  Horses have carried us for as long as man first climbed on his back.   "The Ride" is the challenge for the day, whatever that ride has to offer.  Riders and horses need this experience to develop into better endurance challenges & goals.
>     
>    I hear riders back away from tough rides BUT, with the intentions of someday doing the Tevis or some other bigger ride goal in the same breath.  Then the Tevis day comes and the horse or the rider is not experienced to handle the challenge.  It's not the rides fault it would be your fault for not preparing.
>        Why would a rider do simple rides only and have these goals ahead of them?  Knowing very well they are not training to get closer to their goal year after year.
>        We should as riders seek these rides out more than once in a while for preparing both themselves and their horses.
>        So seek out a good tuff ride and have some fun and teach you and your horse to prepare one step closer to that bigger goal you have.
>
> Tammy Robinson
> Trail-Rite Ranch & Products
> 18171 Lost Creek Road
> Santa Clarita, CA 91390
> 661/513-9269 or 661/713-3912; cell
> www.Trail-Rite.com (new updates!)

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