I absolutely agree with
what Kim posted about getting "mileage credit." So
what?
I've had to learn to
deal with pulling since my perference is 100s, and those lower completion rates
have certainly applied to me (and not because I like to go fast [although I
do]--none of my pulls have been from my horse running out of juice--knock
wood). Just seems to happen, and I've always pulled my own horse at
the drop of a hat, often in spite of the vet's clearance.
It's a different
mindset, to deal with pulls and be philosphical about it, but it is
do-able. I firmly believe it is much better for the horse's welfare to not
see pulling as "failure," but rather a learning experience that is--most
importantly--in the horse's best interest.
The only time now that
I have a hard time pulling is because of me. Some of you know the
story about my 20 MT on Cayenne last year (had to ride a western
saddle--excruciating ankle pain) At each VC I was fervently
hoping we'd be pulled--I even tried telling the vets Cayenne was lame, but they
just laughed at me and told me I had to go on....I was so happy when
Suzy agreed we could finally quit at 92 miles!
Why is the "credit" so important? I
really don't understand. If your goal is to ride 50 miles and you can
only finish 35 on that day why is it so important to get "credit" for the
miles you completed when you did not accomplish the goal you set out to
accomplish. I honestly am having a really difficult time understanding
this concept. We don't count all the training miles we put on our horses
so it isn't the ACTUAL trail mileage our horses have over the years that
is so important to have recognized.
What exactly is the "credit" for if you don't
finish the ride? Maybe that is what I don't understand. Is this
concept supposed to be like those ultra runs where you run around a track
for 24 hours and then see how many miles you can rack up?
Again, I ask. Are we at the
point in this sport where there has to be some kind of "insurance" of success
if we don't reach our original goal on that particular day? Does
accumulating miles on your horse's record mean so much now
that riders are actually willing to count miles
completed when there is actually DNF from that
competition. From my viewpoint, if my real goal is to complete a 100 and
on that day I complete 50 miles is getting credit for those miles supposed to
make me feel better, like I made it half way so I get half credit? I
still know we didn't reach the goal we set out to achieve. Is this
really about what some consider "wasted miles" and "wasted money on entries"
when they choose/have to pull.
I try to look at this concept from other
sports and still can't see the logic. If I enter the LA marathon and
can't finish do I get credit for a 10K on my running resume? I think it
is impossible to take the risk of not achieving the goal and not
compromise the integrity of the event or sport itself. Do you really
want to be able to ask someone how many of their horse's
AERC miles were from events he completed and how many were from
rides he pulled from?
Kim
Please Reply to: Buddy Gleason
glea6826@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or
ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ==========================================
All
rides are 100's or 50's. Go the distance of 25. Get credit. Go the distance
of 50. Get credit. Go the distance of 75. Get credit. Go the distance of
100. Get credit. Then everyone enters the 100 mile ride or 50 mile ride.
They complete whatever distance they choose. Of course the Vets will award
the completion. Horse being fit to continue, of course. If you pull or the
vet pulls you, then you are awarded the distance completed. Be it 25, 50,
75, 100. Ride management can then charge one fee to enter for one
distance. The 100 or 50. Whatever, distance that ride is listed as. Then,
everyone can ride their horse the distance they feel is OK without loosing
miles that can be credited. This is another way of thinking about
ENDURANCE RIDING> Buddy
