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Re: [RC] What is Real Endurance!! - Jim Holland


You know, the current discussion on this topic is getting kinda boring,
and somewhat out of context, so just to change "direction" a little,
here's a little story about my first experience with "real" endurance.

Back in the early '90's, I was crewing for my mentor. Her horse was not
perfect by any means...conformation, recoveries, etc...but she knew her
stuff and her knowledge and experience got a lot out of a little guy
that most riders would have never got through a 50...but she...and
I...consistently ran him in the Top Ten. For her, it was always about
the horse. If you crewed for her, you NEVER heard her complain, it was
always about what the HORSE needed and how HE was doing amd what HE
needed. I didn't quite understand until after a particularly hard ride
when, after the ride, she came in from looking after her horse, checking
his feet, massaging his hindquarters, and checking him carefully down to
the most minute detail, (she insisted on doing that personally) she
asked if I would help her remove her tights. Her legs were so chafed and
bloody, I had to wet them to get her tights off. "Why didn't you tell
me?" I asked. "It wasn't important." she said. She got up in the middle
of the night to go recheck her horse. She expected a lot from him, and
in turn, she gave HER all in return. Rode him on the edge for his
ability, but never had a metabolic pull.

She crewed for me riding that horse for part of a season. She NEVER
wanted to hear how I was doing...simply didn't care. She expected me to
look after myself...AFTER the horse. Her only concern was for the
HORSE...and a screw up would get me a tongue lashing I didn't soon
forget!  She also liked the hard rides....and taught me how to succeed
at them...and to love the challenge. 

I wish she could still compete...we need more riders with that
mentality.

Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic




Teri wrote:

Well Jim, some people just like to argue.  If you say the sky is blue they
will say it is pink.  I agree with you wholeheartedly.  The tougher the
terrain the bigger the smile.  Flat rides are borring to me.

Teri



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Replies
RE: [RC] What is Real Endurance!!, Teri