Cindy said: It's bad enough to have people running
around saying they are endurance riders or advertising their horses as
endurance horses when they've done a couple of LD rides! Cindy
I don’t know Cindy; I have never met her or even heard
of her. But it is statements like those above that are keeping new people
away from the sport. Perhaps Cindy, with her 8,000+ miles, has forgotten
what is like to be new and enthused about doing something they previously
thought unobtainable. LD’s are a “vehicle” to entice
newbie’s into the sport. It worked for my wife and me. We did
a few, liked them, and this year have moved up to the 50’s. I don’t
know Truman either, but from the discussion so far I surmise that the SEDRA
program is also designed to excite and encourage new people to take the next
step. Perhaps his system is not yet perfected, but the intent is there
and it seems to be a step in the right direction. Instead of trashing the
idea why not work to change it for the better?
I do not intend to start the whole LD is not endurance
discussion. That horse has been beaten to death. I just don’t
appreciate the “holier than thou” attitude that some long time
riders hold. Some bemoan the decline of the 100 while at the same time
making fun of and belittling those who are just starting out in the sport with
the LD’s. HELLO…. Those LD riders are the next crop of 100
riders!
I hate posts that are only negative without offering
solutions. So I would like to encourage those who have been around a
while and have done many rides in many years to become mentors. I truly appreciate
the support and advice that my wife and I received from Jane Cloud (West) when
we first started. She graciously allowed us to train with her and I even
volunteered at her ride: the DelValle Vulture Venture, while my wife rode the
LD and top tenned.
When we moved to Tennessee
last year we knew no one here. After a chance encounter on the Natchez
Trace with Angie Fura, my wife and I found another group of riders willing to help
newcomers and share their experiences. Many thanks to Angie, Eva, Jackie,
Wendy, and Clay for their fellowship and advice. They let us ride with
them and have extended future invitations. Their encouragement has helped
my wife to be more confident in her ability to continue to do the 50’s.
I pestered them continuously with questions and they answered every one.
This sport needs the experienced riders, ALL of them, to act
like those above who helped me. I challenge each of you to recruit one
new person to the sport next year. Whether they ride a 50 or an LD or
even a 10 mile fun run is not important. The introduction to the sport
and the excitement and enthusiasm you can impart will be infectious. I
have already picked out a new recruit and hope to drag them to a ride next
year.
I’m done…. You can all go back to
discussing the politics of the WEG and FEI now. That’s much more
important to the long term health of the sport, right?
