I love your post! It's Peggy from California who spoke with you, at
length, about this issue at the Owyhee ride.
You put it so well! I have ridden many LD miles, by choice this year,
in 4 different regions, and I have to say that what I observed, while riding
these miles, with this particular group of riders, was a very caring and
fun-loving group of people out to have fun on a "limited distance ride"
(I don't remember overhearing anyone talking about an LD ride should be
considered "endurance" - I personally don't believe that either - it is a
completely different category of competition within the AERC). There were
some who were obviously out to "win", but what I saw mostly good looking horses
at the end - nothing whipped and exhausted. I don't remember ever seeing
any horses getting treated at the end.
Here in the West, several times I heard the lecture (at the pre ride
meeting) "because we don't want to promote racing, we will not be giving
any placings in our LD ride" or "we consider LD to be a training ride, so we are
not giving any placings".
I was training and conditioning and competing my horse while riding in
the LD - it was not just a "training ride" for me. It was an LD
competition. The majority of the people weren't on wild, young
green horses either.
The few opportunities I had to show for BC were really great! It was
refreshing to be given an opportunity to truly show off my horse, that I had
worked hard to ride to the best of his ability, and to have the possibility of
the coveted BC, which I would be very proud to have on our
record!
Wherever this BC for LD thing goes, in terms of the way it is
judged, it must be STANDARDIZED so EVERYONE has an opportunity to compete
for an award that is such a feather in one's cap. Right now we have
regional awards for LD BC, and these are great horses who win them, but
this award is not a representation of a TRUE champion, as not all LD horses in
have the opportunity to show. If your goal for the year is to win the BC
for LD award, it is silly that you have to look for rides that offer you
an opportunity to show for BC, not to mention, expensive, if you end up having
to travel to other regions to collect your points. I think
that's really unfair.
The LD category of competition within the AERC has a new breed of rider,
the majority of them who are very concerned with the welfare of their horses and
who ride at this level for reasons other than training their horse.
I believe that LD mileage should be separate from endurance - LD is not
endurance.
I also believe that having a BC for LD helps to promote "smart riding" by
the competitors.
I rode with Dot Wiggins at the Owyhee ride and enjoyed hearing stories from
her riding career - I watched her win BC for LD, and her horse looked so great
and she was so proud. It felt good riding with someone from the "old
school" and hearing that they understand how this sport has evolved and are in
total support of rewarding riders for good horse management, no matter what the
distance!
Peggy Eaton (who took a while to speak up, but finally has!)
