Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

One of the many things about LD that bugs me is the fact that AERC doesn't 
treat it as a sport at all.  The weight class of the rider is never listed, 
the mileage has just recently been credited in a separate non-endurance type 
category, the placement of the riders, in order of finish, is not given, no 
points are awarded, there doesn't seem to be any top ten even though there 
really is at the rides I attend and, then, there's the BC fiasco.

I'm not asking that LD be considered true endurance but I would like the BOD 
to decide if the LD is a sport at all.  Is it a competitive sport or is it 
not?  And, if it isn't, what the heck is it?

cya,
Howard


> From: Ridecamp Guest <guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [RC]   LD/Endurance
> Date: Fri, 14 May 2004 15:16:09 GMT
>
> Please Reply to: Bruce Weary bweary@xxxxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> ==========================================
>
> I would like to respond to Truman's comments regarding any inclination 
> toward reclassifying LD as an endurance ride, simply because our 
> demographics may be changing or interest levels at other distances may be 
> fluctuating. Human marathons often offer a 10k or half-marathon at the same 
> event, presumably for the same reasons we offer LDs--to subsidize the cost 
> of the entire event, attract other like-minded participants who can't/won't 
> go the greater distance, attract newbies, allow for conditioning or 
> returning injured runners. To me, the similarities are overwhelming. Those 
> who run the 10k do not get credit for a marathon, regardless of the amount 
> of participation at the other levels. The ride lengths in endurance riding 
> are titled so, not to be exclusionary, but to clearly identify the 
> differences in the preparation, training, and "enduring" required at each 
> level, and thus the recognition commensurate with each level of 
> achievement. If there were a downward trend in the interest in marathoning, 
> I'm quite sure the 10k industry would not then adopt the title of "marathon 
> running" and start awarding marathon completion recognition to its 
> participants.
>   If there are people who think that LD is so similar in the demands on 
> the horse and rider as what has been traditionally recognized as an 
> endurance ride (50 miles or greater in one day) imagine the horror you 
> would feel if you decided to try running a 10K, and upon starting the race 
> you realize you accidently got in with the marathoners and were expected to 
> finish. The amount of trepidation you would feel would be directly 
> proportional to the difference in difficulty between the two events.
>   As far as the majority only doing a couple 25's a year and thus 
> considering those their "endurance" rides for the year,in this case the 
> word is being used descriptively, not to redefine the most demanding equine 
> sport on the planet. My wife and I recently held a yard sale over a two day 
> period, and let me tell you, it was a marathon. But under no circumstance 
> did I run 26.2 miles, nor would I expect to be given credit for having done 
> so.
> And, finally, after 20 years and 6,000 miles in this sport, it's very hard 
> to convince me that there is a significant number of people who bash LDers. 
> I mention this because it is often given as a reason for changing the 
> status of LD. You can't legislate morality, and you can't get respect by 
> demanding it.
>   If you wanna have the pride, you gotta do the ride.   Bruce
>
> ===========================================================If you treat an 
> Arab like a Thoroughbred, it will behave like a Quarter
> horse.
> ~  Libby Llop
>
> ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/
>
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