Most of the recent posts are about awards, receiving
recognition, whether people feel welcome. Maybe it is time we talked
about personal rewards that are a little less transitory. The best ride of my
life was a ride I did not complete. Why? Because on that one occasion I
knew I rode my horse better than I had ever ridden a horse before. It was
thirty years ago. I have never duplicated it. On only two occasions in
40 years of endurance riding have I felt totally in harmony with a
horse---they were brief, but memorable. I was alone both times. And I
soared. Believe me, I would trade every award I have ever won before I would
give up even one of the memories of those three events. So maybe we, as
riders, should change our perspective a bit and quit worrying about who got
the best tee shirt. Regardless of the distance ridden, our sport offers far greater
rewards. Julie
