Hi there -- I'm Dana, in
Texas... and I am interested in doing my first AERC 25 miler fairly soon... I live in deep East
Texas (Davy Crockett and Angelina are my "stomping grounds"), and I ride the
third greatest love of my life - a 16.1 Silver Dun Paint (TB X
QH) whom we affectionately call "Comanche Joe".
I have participated in a
few R4 NATRC Competitive Trail Rides over the years, the last one being at the
6-0 Ranch in Cleburne, Texas. I have only rode at a Novice level, but find the
speed to be too slow for my horse's comfort. Although he is 1/2 QH, he LIVES to
"hook it" on down the trail!! I would try NATRC "Open" level, but quite honestly
do not like the idea of "mounted forward motion only" for 40+ miles... which
brings me to AERC.
As I understand it, a 25
mile ride is done in one day, but you can dismount and actually WALK DOWN THE
TRAIL (unmounted forward motion) enroute to the finish line, if you
wish. I REALLY like that concept. I used to think doing 25 miles at once was
INSANE... but the way I figure it now (after conditioning for years), riding a
NATRC Novice 15-20 miles in one day is fairly easy, so if I can actually get off
and walk a bit, stretch my legs, loosen my girth and "refresh", I can most
certainly do a 25 with proficiency, maybe even more. So, is this true... the
allowance of getting off and walking your horse down the trail?
Can you give me an idea of
what a typical ride day is, from start to finish?
Also, I've been told that
Endurance Riders are a bit more, uh... "unmannered" than other distance riding
associations - and although there are good guys and bad guys in EVERY part of
the planet, I am wondering where manners come into play in AERC... in NATRC,
people are polite when passing, courteous and kind on the trail, helpful,
etc... usually... is this how it is on the AERC trail too? Are you
judged on horsemanship or simply your ability to get from point A to point B
intact, healthy and in a timely manner?
Although I DO like NATRC,
they seem to be very "rule oriented" and I think perhaps I may be more at home
with more "relaxed" company... is AERC more "relaxed" than NATRC? In
NATRC, we all have to keep our horses the same way (tied to the trailer for the
most part), they judge your trailer set up, judge your horse keeping, judge
your horsemanship, set up and judge you on obstacles on the trail, sometimes
even watch you with binoculars, require only mounted forward motion (you can get
off and stop, or walk back down the trail only), vet check in, vet check out,
P&R's on the trail, etc, etc.... does AERC do things that way? HOW does AERC
do "things" ? How does one know how to behave at an Endurance ride?
Please share your thoughts,
advice and opinions with me... I would like to try a 25 miler... Darolyn says
the 7L is a good first time ride, so maybe I'll give it a shot, BUT I really
want to learn all that I can first. My 10 year old daughter would compete with
me too, so I also need "kid" advice.
Thanks in advance -- I
REALLY appreciate you -- Dana in Texas
PS: Please forgive my
constant reference to NATRC, but it's the only thing I know that I can
compare/contrast too... I know what I like about it, but I know what I don't
like too... you know?
