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Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] [RC] RideCamp -LDs. - Howard Bramhall

Come on, Lynne, I don't think I said anywhere that 25 was the same as 50. Of course it isn't. Even I know that.

But, if done correctly I really do think there's some merits to doing those lower distances that are rarely mentioned here on Ridecamp. For one, it's definitely the distance for non Arabian horses whose owners find out that 50 is just a bit much for them to endure. For another thing, the heavier riders who find that the longer distances do take more of a toll on their horse than what the tiny hineys experience; they might find that they do far better in the 25, 30, or 35 milers where weight classes aren't even a part of the sport at all.

Wouldn't it be nice to get some kind of credit for the lower distance miles at a ride? We really could encorporate it all into one sport with different levels. Endurance, Level One (25 to 49 miles); Endurance, Level Two (50 miles to 99) and Endurance, Level Three (100 miles). Just by doing this alone we might get more folks to move up to the 100 miler. Everyone wants to shoot for the top level.

We could count the points similar to the way we do 50 miles and 100 miles. The 25 would be far less, similar to how completing a 50 is so much less than a 100 using our point system as it is now. But, it would count as something. Not be a completely separate sport, with separate statistics and separate mileage, no points, with the weight of the rider not even listed, that sort of thing. It's limited because that's what we've done to it. Absorb it by making it part of the endurance world and it no longer will be.

There are so many reasons (and, I bet there's some out there who would call them excuses) why a rider would want to do a lesser distance and still be considered part of the same crowd. I've listed a few of them but there's many more. Physical limitations of the rider comes to mind. Bringing a warm blood to a ride is another reason. Wouldn't it be nice to see more of those other breeds out there at our rides? Absorb the lower distances into the sport called endurance and it might happen.

There are different distances in Track and Field. A 100 meter dash is not the same as a marathon run, but, they all make up the sport of Track and Field. Those events are all, equally, incorporated into the same sport. NOt too many talk about the difference between 50 miles and a 100 but, let's face it; they're two completely different worlds that are as closely related as a 25 is to a 50.

I'm really not trying to reset a previous lit fire here. I'm just talking about it because, for some reason, I never knew that it used to be considered endurance at all. That's how much I've been brainwashed with the term Limited Distance.

For the human, 25 miles is still a marathon. Even for the horse, I would like to see us do more with this distance than just call it a training ride.

cya,
Howard


From: Lynne Glazer <anyone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Howard Bramhall" <howard9732@xxxxxxx>
CC: heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC]   [RC] [RC] RideCamp -LDs.
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 10:03:07 -0700

Here we go again.

OK, come up with a new name for LD then. Intro. Or something. In Dressage there are levels. Come up with a new name. Riders who do, say, Prix St. George would not be comfortable having First Level riders grouped with them. So get creative, Howard.

Just do NOT try and call it endurance.

Like calling a 10K a marathon--it just doesn't WORK. And it's insulting. It is HARDER to do a 50 than to do a 25. They are not the same for either horse or rider. I can say that without IN ANY WAY putting down the lower distance.

We have multi day rides. 100 mile rides. I don't consider a 50 equivalent to a 100--why would anyone? So why do you think a 50 is the same as a 25? We're all "distance riders", can't we just be comfortable with that?

We will always have people/horses more comfortable with that introductory distance level--why try and categorize it the same when even the participants aren't looking for that?

Lynne
ride manager, endurance rider, LD rider
whose endurance mare is past her due date, c'mon BABY

On Apr 28, 2004, at 8:24 AM, Howard Bramhall wrote:

Yes, but, one can dream. Dream of a day when the LD is no longer considered "limited." Dream of a day when all riders are educated to the point that the horse will always come first, no matter what the distance. Dream of a day when riders of all distances are treated equally. Dream of the day when knowledge of the past is used to aid us in our future. Dream of the day when we can come up with a solution to all of this.

I do think that the days you're speaking of also had some antiquated rules like the 72 bpm for passing the vet check, only one vet check, at the finish line, for the 25, instead of two, no knowledge of what a CRI was, walking the horse instead of trotting him for the completion, etc. Incorporate all of those and, maybe, dare I say it, even adding another rule or two, and the shorter distance can be handled the same way as a 50 or the 100 without having the problems you mentioned. Rider education, clinics at the rides, a well established mentor program, which includes providing mentors for those who want or need them at the ride, all of this could really make such a thing a reality. And, to change the name of the LD to a 25 mile endurance ride. Eliminate the word "limited" altogether.

It can be done if only we wanted it badly enough.

ONe can only dream.

cya,
Howard (I still believe)


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