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Re: [RC] It's not the distance... - Joe LongOn Sat, 18 Oct 2003 10:35:37 -0600, "E.L. Ashbach" <samaia@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Here we have the crux of the problem ... you seem to feel that you know what is optimum for someone else's horse better than they. Joe, please read my posts. I don't proclaim to know, but I'd bet the Vet Committee, or the head vet, or ride manager, at each ride feels like they could give a reasonable guideline for the new horse and rider. OK, not "You" personally ... but someone. Now, a guideline would be OK ... as long as it is a recommendation, not a rule. Yep, CTR does, and we do ourselves honor as endurance riders to provide safety measures for those beginners who don't know what optimal is, and for any equine lucky enough to be brought to this life by someone who loves them. IMO we do not need Yet Another Rule that takes responsibility away from the rider and tells them how they must pace their horse. No, we do not do ourselves honor by doing so ... we change our sport in a fundamental way, away from endurance and toward CTR. Now, CTR is a fine sport for those who like it, but so is endurance, thank you. Wow, not another rule? Is this Joe "minimum rider age rule" Long? ;-) Yep, though I don't want to stir that debate up again -- we have always had a minimum age for the horses, and I do believe we should show equal concern and responsibility for our juvenile human participants as we do for our juvenile equine participants. BTW, Kahlil and I began our careers with one 25-mile ride before going on to our first 50. I have never done more than two 25's on any horse I've started in endurance before moving to 50's. The speed I ride them depends on the horse, usually mid-pack although in one case in last place, and in another first-to-finish. I do not want you or anyone else to tell me how fast to bring them along. Nobody would telling you how to ride any distance, once you demonstrate that what you *think* your new horse can do, it really can do. Like I told Heidi, if you've got to ride your new horse in a 4 hour 50 because it'll ruin that horse to go slower, take a 1 1/2 hour vet check or something. It's ludicrous to be holding up "optimal ride pacing" like it's *the most important thing in any endurance ride* for a discussion of new horses and riders. Smell the roses the first time or two, you'll have years to race, as you well know. And just how would one "demonstrate" that? Especially on speed-limit rides? My own feeling is that as long as you prepare properly and pace the 25's properly, one or two is enough before moving to the 50's. The real key is properly pacing the 50's, and again that pace depends on many factors and cannot be set by a rule. I do agree that many if not most *beginning* riders would benefit, and their horses would benefit, if they spent some time doing 25's and learning the ropes before attempting 50's. But that is (and should be) an individual decision.Let me be clear: this is a ROOKIE RULE. It's for NEW HORSES and RIDERS. There's nothing magic about new riders or horses doing any particular distance, it's the speed they ride their chosen distance. Sorry, but I'm not willing to waive the flag of personal freedom and responsibility with a mob who haven't demonstrated their ability to handle it. And I'm not willing to impose unnecessary and counterproductive rules on people just because they're newcomers to the sport. Not everyone starts with 25's. What would you do, require new riders (or horses) to do X number of (speed-restricted) 25's before being allowed to enter a 50? Would you restrict their speed in 50's until they somehow "demonstrate" that they can be allowed to do more? One of the wonderful things about endurance is that it is a sport that has NOT been ruined by "control freaks" who want to force everyone to ride in some "approved" fashion. We provide vet controls that demand that a horse be fit to continue, but we wisely do not try to dictate how the rider achieves that standard. -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxx http://www.rnbw.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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