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[RC] Zen and the Art of Endurance Riding - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Daniel Tautenhan dannyappleseed@xxxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== I first became interested in Endurance riding in 1990 when my mother, an avid horsewoman, mentioned it to me. I moved to Portland from Montana in 1996, post University, and quickly began to miss the scent of horses, the trails in Montana, the open skies and riding with friends and family. Shortly after my relocation, in a conversation during a temporary job, I mentioned this equine longing to Deanne Schlepped, an employee at the job posting. She introduced me to her friend Marion and soon the three of us went off riding. It was thrilling to be back on trail, with new friends, in the fresh air, with the rain on my face, in the velvety, magical state of Oregon. The 3 jobs I held, and new challenges sent me into a spin and my contact with the endurance world did not surface again until the summer of 2002. In August 2002 DeWayne Brown introduced me to a new chapter of my experience endurance riding. I rode and trained with him for roughly 6 months and then did my first 50 mile ride at Kilickitat 2003. I am deeply grateful to him for sharing this gift with me. My hat goes off to you DeWayne. At the Klickitat ride, I was reacquainted with Marion Griffith. We began riding together again. I found it inspiring that with her busy business schedule, it was still her top priority to maintain her horses? health, happiness, and condition at the highest accord. I have pleasantly found that many endurance riders share this same passion and commitment. Marion, her family, and their herd have an integrity that reflects love, and intelligence. I am deeply grateful to know them, to have trained with them, and to compete with them. Thank you! So it is that with each successive experience we gain some wisdom, life examples, that enhance the lessons of our wisest forefathers. My mother told me, that the horse is a symbol of strength, speed, and love, but easily succumbs to fear. My lessons have taught me that good horsemanship and sportsmanship are a result of overcoming our own fears and making peace with them, not projecting them onto others. And, that socially maligning, black balling, and gossip are the seeds of poor sportsmanship and a tortured soul. There is a higher quality in life to shoot for, and what better place to aim than from horseback, in the beauty of the rides. I look forward to new chapters, and revelations in the world of endurance ===========================================================The two best drugs to have in your kit are Tincture of Time and a Dose of Common Sense. These two will carry you through 99.999% of the problems associated with horses and endurance competition. ~ Robert Morris ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ===========================================================
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