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Re: [RC] howard and racing - Truman Prevatt

Don't fool yourself it is a race - if it is not a race why do they give first place? At just about every ride I've been to there has been at least two people - sometimes three racing for first place. In fact I have a tee shirt with a picture from a previous ride with three people galloping bore side by side up a dirt road to the finish. If I'm in position to win a ride - youre darn tooting I'm going for it and going full bore (assuming the finish line is safe). I would be very upset if I came around a curve and had to pull an emergency maneuver - potentially hurting myself or my horse because someone was in the trail at the finish. It has noting to do with riding out of control - it has all to do with a spectator putting themselves ( and the riders ) at risk.

If one is going to put one's self in the path of a 1000 pound animal running potentially at 25 mph - then one will get hurt or cause someone else to get hurt trying to avoid turing you into a grease spot on the ground.  That's pretty much the way I read Howard's post.

I know if I'm out watching the finish I sure am going to do so at a safe distance.

Truman

Catfish Daniels wrote:
I guess I totally missed something here.  I since deleted Howard's post
after sorta scanning through it, but it seems to me that he was more
talking about people staying out of the way at the finish line.  What's
wrong with that???  I don't know Howard personally, but I would bet that
he is all FOR riding within safe control.  What I got from his e-mail
was the fact that if you go to an endurance ride, which many indeed
consider a race (hey, to each their own), stay out of the way.  At an
endurance ride most horses are wound up, no matter how safe one tries to
ride.  One should stay out of the way no matter what.  It's their time,
their right of way.  And let's face it, there will be people racing to
the finish line, whether it is to win, to slide into the top 10 spot, or
simply because you're excited to finish the 50 miles, chances are that
horses will be galloping in.  I think Howard's advice was great, to stay
the heck out of the way.  As long as endurance is done competitively and
it is something other than a trail ride, you will have people racing.
The trail is designated for those competing - if you see horses coming
your way, I side with Howard, MOVE.  I say, leave it up to the
individual how they choose to ride their mounts.  They've done the
training, they've put in the time and effort, they have paid their entry
fees, there's nothing in the AERC rules that outlaws racing to the
finish line, and hopefully the individual riders will be responsible
enough to ride their horses at whatever speed it is to keep it safe.  
My personal opinion, your smart remark and calling Howard a fool just
because you don't agree with him...I thought that was pretty cheap.

Catfish

DBL Realtors

  

--
We imitate our masters only because we are not yet masters ourselves, and only

We imitate our masters only because we are not yet masters ourselves, and only

because in doing so we learn the truth about what cannot be imitated.

 


Replies
RE: [RC] howard and racing, Catfish Daniels