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Re: [RC] 100s - Zephyr Arabians--- Truman Prevatt <tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: The current crop of people coming into the sport seem to have absolutely no interest in 100's. Well, after spending many years working up the nerve to attend my first ride, I did LD for a short time (3 completions from 5 starts over two years -- getting the kinks worked out I guess) and then started 50s last year. So, I think I fit into the "current crop" right? Anyway, when I first started I had the goal of riding multidays, but not too much interest in 100s. 100s were a vague "maybe someday" thing to me. And Tevis, in particular, was a "I'm not THAT crazy" thought. I've since changed. I still intend to ride multidays (hope to make it to a 5-day later this year). But, the 100 mile goal has been added to my list. The horse I'm riding the most is a real candidate, as are at least two of my other horses (one of which has sired a 100 mile horse, but never had the chance to compete himself). I also met a rider at a recent ride who is just getting started in the sport as well and she's hoping to make it to Tevis next year. And she plans to try an "easier" 100 before then. She has a definate 100 mile goal (and the horse to do it). So, we're not that rare if two of us just happened to be riding along and bump into each other. :) I suspect that fear of hurting one's horse (or one's self) is a big hurdle to getting more people to ride 100s. It's why I'm planning on trying a 75 first -- I have an almost irrational fear of hurting my horse, even though I know she's a whole lot tougher than I am! For most people its probably quite difficult to imagine that your horse IS actually ready to go that far. Those of you who have done 100s know how fit the horse actually has to be, but if one has not done 100s then the "is s/he ready?" question can really hold us back. And, of course, the average rider doesn't have a lot of conditioning time (work, commutes, family, etc) so there is the nagging worry that not enough conditioning has been done. I know the accomplished 100 mile riders have these same challenges, but you have now made it over the hump -- try to remember what it might be like on the other side. :) Oh, and don't ask me at the end of a 50 if I want to ride 100s. :) ~Nicole Zephyr Arabians http://www.zephyrarabians.com KattWmn Web Design http://www.kattwmn.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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