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[RC] FORWARD WITH PERMISSION OF WRITER.. - Jonni Jewell

From Jeanne Slominski

Not one person has been able to show why the system works just fine in

all of the other regions, but will not work here in the West & PS. Why is
the West & PS so different? Depending on where and what time of the year a
ride is held, the terrain and weather can be the same as in every other
region. What makes the West & PS the exception to the rule? <<<

I think many of the ride managers in the West and PS have been LONG time
ride managers, involved in the sport for many, many years. They are seeing
the sport changing away from some of the original ideas of ENDURANCE being
50 or more miles, and LD rides are training rides.  Some of these managers
have seen problems when speed is encouraged in a LD ride...either from using
it as part of the BC judging, or by giving placings, or some fancy award for
the first horse to finish.  Different managers have found systems that work
very well for the LD rides they offer in conjunction with the Endurance
ride. Some rides don't offer BC at all, and even announce the LD finishers
in no specific order, or even alphabetical order, to not recognize speed as
a factor. And you know what??? Riders keep coming back. So it works for THAT
management and that ride.  The more we push for awards in LD ( year end,
regional etc. etc. ) the more some of these managers are seeing what they
feel is the sport being watered down, and moving away from encouraging
riders to move up to longer distances, as the sport was founded on.  And
don't get going on all the reasons many riders do LD, and it supporting the
sport etc. etc.  We have all heard that. And yes, even some of these old
time riders who have been around a long time, will often take a horse in a
LD ride for training.  (but they are not the ones who care about the awards
either)

BTW, the terrain and weather are sure not the same in every region. Here in
the CT region, even a hot humid day at some of the local flat rides could
not compare to the mountains in California.  Much tougher trails out west
than many other areas.



Jonni


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You don't have to be a 100-mile rider or a multi-day rider to be an
endurance rider, but if you want to experience the finest challenges our
sport has to offer, you need to do both of those.
~ Joe Long

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