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RE: [RC] re: 100 milers...speed vs. tradition - StephTeeter-----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Cindy Collins Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2004 7:07 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] re: 100 milers...speed vs. tradition I truly believe that there is a division in philosophy between folks that do FEI and those of us that got into this sport to get away from that type of hype and rules. It doesn't mean one is wrong, but that most of us are not attracted to both. You are an exception. Just my two cents. Cindy>> This is probably true for most of the AERC membership. I think that around 1 in 10 members are doing 100's, it's a relatively small group. I'd love to hear from other 100 mile riders on this. My suspicion is that many of the 100 milers fade in and out of the FEI scene - depending on having 'the' horse, and on other life factors. When I think look at some of the names of the top riders doing FEI this year, and aiming for Dubai - they've been around the block a few times, doing Tevis, ROC's, OD's etc. Basically going for the challenge and the urge to excel, at whatever the venue. My point in piping up is that I do feel that there are some that would like to see FEI separated from AERC, and it worries me. We are a small sport, a small community of riders with more similarities than differences. And at the 100 mile level, the differences are even fewer. I honestly haven't seen any data or stats to back up the claims that the faster rides are harder on horses. Foolish riders are hard on horses, and one can be just as foolish on a tough mountain course as on a flat desert course. And regardless of the course, or the venue, every rider can choose their speed. We had almost as many riders do the AN 100 in the 12-16 hour range, as in the 8-10 hour range. And a high completion rate with no metabolic pulls. And the scenery isn't all that bad either. (do I sound defensive :) Just please don't try to drive away, or separate, the riders that are following International trends, or just trying to be the best in their sport by one standard - some of you might have been doing the same thing 10 or 20 years ago. We change - but the sport really isn't changing that much. It's always been a 'finish sport' for some, and a 'race' for others. Even traditionally. It's a bit of an odd sport we have, where even though it is a timed event, and we are rewarded with top tens, first to finish prizes, extra points for going faster than others - it is a stigma to call it a race, and stating 'to win is to win' would be near heresy... It's as if the collective conscience of the sport is afraid that if we call it a race people will get stupid and feel that they 'have to' race. Just ride, do what you like, protect our horses, and be tolerant of others with different goals. Steph (I'll ride any horse, at any speed, on any trail, and enjoy it just as much either way. But those few times where the horse, the trail, the day, the luck, all converged with a 'first to finish' have been very very special.) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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