In a message dated 1/31/2005 8:11:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
It seems
to me, there is such nit picking of this WEC ride, that is rarely done on our
very own AERC rides.
Helllooooo....what planet are you from? Or, do you just occasionally
visit Planet Ridecamp? Have you not tuned in right after big rides like
Tevis or the National Championship? Please, we are equal opportunity
trashers here. Nothing special is being dished out for the WEC, this is
business as usual. :)
Personally, I'm proud of our US riders.....they traveled an incredible
distance and took good care of their horses. I'm so glad that Bev Gray's
horse is going to be ok and will get to come home with her.
Regarding the UAE guy(s) doing well at Tevis....they rode local horses that
they leased (unless I've been misinformed, which has happened a time or two) and
that is WAY different than transporting a horse overseas and introducing him to
an entirely different climate, feed, shoeing, etc. So them doing well at Tevis
on leased horses doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot to me. I'd still love
to see them ship some of their horses over and compete with us muzzle to muzzle
on horses they bred and raised (NOT horses they bought from American breeders
for big bucks and then shipped back over here for a race or just kept here for
the race). In other words compete with us the way we are competing with
them.
Comparing flat track racing like the recent WEC ride to a ride like Tevis
or Big Horn is apples and oranges and is meaningless.
I'm a "to finish is to win" person all the way and I'm proud of that.
But I have a ton of respect for a horseman who can "race" his (or
her) horse AND have long careers. The stories of some of the WEC
horses who have had long careers are inspiring. I do wish that changing a
horse's name wasn't so easy, I'd love to be able to keep track of our good US
horses more easily as they continue their careers in the UAE under
pseudonyms. Anybody know what Shahdon's new name is?
Sylvia
(oh yeah...on "learning from the Sheikh's"...per an earlier post from
somebody.. I say "Pfffffft!" Most of us don't have the money that
kind of education would cost...Oh! Maybe that was sour grapes! ;)
