Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Lianne, some people are incapable at viewing the bigger picture, 
blocked by their own experience.  Agreed, LDs are building blocks for 
some but disagree that everyone should start out with one: if you 
happened to have the self-discipline, the time and the ability to do 
training rides of 25 miles or more on your own, the only reason to 
consider starting with an LD might be to just "learn the drill"--for 
the human--learning how the vet checks are operated if it's the first 
time at the sport, for instance (of course I think those people should 
volunteer at a ride first!)  Or with a younger horse, learning how to 
camp out and eat/drink without stress, but many bring a conditioned 
horse ready for 50 miles and up completion-not-racing without it being 
"stupid or funny" at all.

Some horses can trot through a 25 and not learn anything about how to 
take care of themselves or save some for later, and then at the next 
one they do be absolutely terrifying in their intensity to "win".  That 
was my experience with my greenie--so we quit the game until he can do 
50--he's one of those who needs to "see God".  He didn't hurt himself 
at that second ride--and it was "only" about 6 miles of wrestling with 
that intensity, and he took care of himself "perfectly"--he won a 
blanket for perfect vet score, but what I learned is that there wasn't 
a hole in his conditioning, but rather one in his mental conditioning, 
hard to replicate in training.  If it had been a 50, he'd've gotten to 
the 35 mile point or so and realized there was more to this than he 
thought.

And I've learned that it's best to very carefully pick the initial 
event for a horse like this one--one where you can get off and walk, 
safely, while other horses pass, so if he needs to spin around me in 
frustration, nobody is at risk.  I learned that pre-riding the start 
can be dumb indeed as your horse argues with you that he knows where 
he's going, and we can WIN!  :-)  Starting behind the pack (waaay 
behind the pack) would have been a better strategy for this horse.

I do believe that some horses are better off starting at multidays, 
even if they just go and do one day--the excitement level is lower, the 
camp is full of been-there, done that horses.

Anyway, just my experience.
Lynne

On Dec 12, 2004, at 9:01 AM, Ridecamp Guest wrote:

> Please Reply to: Lianne dcantrall105@xxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> ==========================================
>
> All I can say, is the person who puts down LD's is blind. LD's are 
> building blocks for some. I know I would not want to run a Marathon if 
> I hadn't run a 1/2 Marathon before. There are new people who want to 
> experience what endurance is all about. I think it would be stupid or 
> funny to do a 50 if  you or the horse had never experienced an 
> endurace ride before. I had a friend who did it. She was sucked into 
> believing that you are a sissy if you do a LD. Boy was she sorry. Hee, 
> Hee , Hee. I did the 25 for my first ride and enjoyed every minute of 
> it. I still ride endurance, she does not.  There are people who do 
> have disabilities who can ride LD's but can not go any further. There 
> are some who ride LD's finish with an ejoyable day, sit down with 
> their beer, and watch everyone else go back out , come back tired , 
> hungry and wanting that chair and beer. To each his own. But I do 
> believe LD's belong in our sport.
>
> Lianne Cantrall


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=