Seeing a letter such as the one from Jason is very disturbing to me as
I can only think of two reasons why someone would feel compelled to submit
something so divisive. Perhaps he has witnessed or been victim of some
extremely unacceptable behavior from people that believe in the current
LD/Endurance mile definitions. If that is the case then I am truly sorry. If
not, then he can only be trying to make any meaningful discourse on the subject
impossible, and for what purposes I know not.
This is only my first year of involvement in Endurance Riding but I
have not been aware of anyone deriding someone for competing in LD, either on a
ride or on Ridecamp. I now have 85 miles LD and 325 miles Endurance, completing
25s, 30, 50s, 60, 75 and 100 (2 pulls, bad me). I started with an LD and went
back to them as the need arose. Not once did I feel slighted doing the shorter
distances. I did appreciate, however, getting the same recognition/awards and
chance to compete for BC at the shorter distances even though the miles were
classified as LD. This helped me break into the long distances.
IMHO the current system works well. For me each mile on a longer ride
is harder to prepare for, complete and recuperate from. Riding four 25s is not
the same as one 100, IMHO based on my limited experience. In foot racing
doesn’t the distance have to be greater than a certain, arbitrarily defined
value before it is considered a marathon? Does this devalue the people that run
the mile or 100 yard dash? I don’t think so.
Ultimately I don’t give a hoot how the miles are classified. The
most important rewards have been the sunrises and sunsets. Clear night skies
filled with the moon and stars, coyotes and rattlesnakes (well alright, forget
about them). Memories for a lifetime of places and people, collected
equally in LD and Endurance.
Dean Conti
Please Reply to: Jason
ldselitegroup@xxxxxxxxx or=
ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
==========================================
I am going to be bad here,
but I just can't help myself!
The issue of the "Holy
50 Mile Endurance Rider" and that they are=
above all other riders
and mean to EXCLUDE the LD's as=
"endurance
riders.... is making me sick!
How can a group of
"caring" horse people - step on the back of=
LD's to make
themselves look "better"?
Like I said I am going to be
bad here because common sense seems=
to escape this
"elite" group of endurance riders. Maybe we=
should call all 50's -
wanna-be endurance riders, and LD's -=
baby riders as ONLY
(in the USA anyway) would the people that=
FINISH Tevis would
qualify to be an "Endurance Rider". So the=
50's are still
"trying and learning" and since they are they=
don't count either.
Oh, and you folks that said "respect" for="">
the horse, it wont
count for the 50's either - just like the=
LD's 'respect"
for the horse doesn't count. Oh brother!
