In a message dated 8/23/2003 12:15:46 AM Pacific Standard Time, KimFue@xxxxxxx writes:
I think the "education" is there for those that WANT to learn. How do you spoon feed riders (old & new) that will not invest some of their time in learning "how to"? Some people are not willing to take advantage of the educational opportunities presented and then use ignorance as their excuse when something goes wrong. I think it takes a lot of nerve to use this as a defense when a tragedy like this occurs and I have no sympathy for them.
Amen to that, Kim - and in addition, there is something fundamentally wrong with someone who will jump right into a sport without becoming at least competent at a basal level before competing, no matter what another rider says about the ease of the sport. I am appalled by the growing number of riders, and not just in endurance, who have minimal hours in the SADDLE, who then proceed to compete, get beat, and throw tantrums. Indeed, in endurance some may even do well, having bought an exceptional horse, and havign managed to hang on for the requisite miles. Over time, the inexperience of that rider catches up with them, just as their addiction to speed or succeeding grows. I agree here with Kim - the information is out there, and we have encountered pretty much NO rider of quality who won't share their knowledge. Unfortunately as well, anyone can hang a shingle and call themselves a trainer, and so it will continue to be nincumbent upon the rider to choose wisely, and that will always mean behaving as anadult person embarking on a new adventure. I cannot imagine asking for or taking advice from a person whose horse is on an IV for perhaps the 3rd out of 4 rides....regardless of placing. There are excellent mentors out there - don't blame them for the horrible choices of a handful of others.
