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My first 100 was the Fort Howes 100 which was a demonstration ride for the 
FEI riders.  Was it high caliber? Absolutely!  Did I think I would be out of 
my league?  No, because I wasn't riding FEI.  The FEI placings are 
completely different than the AERC, unless of course the FEI riders cross 
enter, which I think most of them did.  I rode my own ride, didn't get 
caught up in the FEI granduer and we finished our first 100 about 4 1/2-5 
hours after the first place horse, but we finished.  There were quite a few 
other people riding where it was their first 100 too, so that is ridiculous 
that just because it's a dual sanctioned ride, not to go to it.  If nothing 
else, watching how the crews and FEI riders work and their horses work, it's 
a fantastic learning experience just observing them.  I mentally prepared 
myself for that ride and rode vet check to vet check without getting ahead 
of myself. My horse pulled me through the last 18 mile loop since I didn't 
eat enough and was not feeling so hot, and he finished with all A's.  The 
only complaint I might have is that I walked away with the same t-shirt that 
the people who rode the 25's did, which riding a 25 and a 100 are like 
comparing apples and oranges.  But, it was the accomplishment of finishing 
and getting that first 100 under our belts that mattered, not the t-shirt.

Basically you just have to go for it and just do it.  If you wait for the 
"perfect 100" to come along, it never will.  Eventually those who really 
want to do a 100 just have to bite the bullet and do it and quite hemming 
and hawing about it.

Jessica and Cysco Kid in MT (Currently really bummed that all the rides that 
are anywhere close are getting cancelled due to fire danger)

> From: "June Scheunemann & Mike Bernsdorf" <equineent@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [RC]   100's
> Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 15:23:19 -0500
>
> Just alittle note from personal experience.....I have done 1 day 100's over
> the past 15 years...this year was one year I will never forget;  it put a
> very bad taste in my mouth for the entire sport.  There was a 100 miler in
> MIch.  it would have been my second ride of this season and my
> horse's..however both of us are extremely experienced having done several
> 100 in 2004 and all 5 days of the Mich Shore to Shore a total of 800 miles
> in one season.  When some folk in our region heard I was going to take my
> boy to the 100 they went out of their way to tell me it was (and I quote)
> out of my caliber of ride....that there were going to be high caliber 
> riders
> there (it was the Grand Island FEI 100) and that I should reconsider.  Now
> mind you, I had more than one rider come up and tell me this....I was
> soooooooooooo turned off from lack of support and to me it seemed from some
> of these riders that even tho' I wasn't riding FEI they did NOT want my
> competition..I started asking myself...hum..were they afraid that I would
> take a placing from them.??..and not to brag but, my boy and I have turned
> in some decent times on the 100's we have completed as well as the mileage
> we have completed.  Plus, I ride to take care of my horse, he is my
> partner....I was only going to ride for myself and the challenge to myself.
> Some of you might say that I let others influence me and some of you might
> feel the way I do...if this is what our sport is coming to ...I want no
> part.  I did not go to the ride....for more reasons than just
> that...including our personal business venture took off full
> steam...however, if anyone else heard these so called successful riders, 
> why
> would anyone care to participate in this sport.....folks use to support one
> another but, now it seems every man for themselves.  So my feeling to get
> more folks interested in doing 100's maybe not run them in conjunction with
> FEI rides.....I guess the competition is HOT for those who care about it 
> and
> a top ten completion is very important to them....... I understand that 
> but,
> what makes their ride sooooooo much more important than anyone else's??? 
> and
> what makes them such a high caliber of rider than anyone else????



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