Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

<snip>
> > 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?
>     
You demonstrate that by *completing* the Rookie rides, goofy, how else? :-P
> <snip>
> > >           
> >
> >           
>
> And I'm not willing to impose unnecessary and counterproductive rules
> on people just because they're newcomers to the sport.
>           
          
Newcomers are so discriminated against in this sport, it's a travesty. ;-) 
I realize to impose *one more thing - go slow* on the Rookie, may be too
much to bear, or remember.
> 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?
>             
No, personally, I was thinking if you sensibly complete slow 100s as your
first rides, more power to you, baby.  You done grad-ji-ated.
> <snip>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.
>               
              
This is the other thing, I'd like to hear from the Vets on this issue.  Wouldn't
a Rookie Rule be of assistance to you with the new folks and new horses out
there?  What if you don't know it's a *ride*,  not a *race*?  It sure looks
like a race...
              
Lisa
 
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