OK I am going to venture into this discussion which is very rare for me
because I usually am sooo glad that I am not in the middle of the "muck" that
sometimes surrounds this topic. Now I will say that I qualify to be in
this discussion because I am fairly new to this sport (started in 2003) and have
now done 3 100 milers including this last Tevis (YEH!!) I have 710 "endurance
miles" and 130 LD miles. I feel that for me and my family LD's were
important because they taught us how to do this thing called Endurance and
taught us a lot about our horses. I quickly realized that this is not
where I would want to stop and soon tried 50 milers, then 65 milers, and then
100 milers. I have started 3 and finished 3 and really enjoy them. I
will admit that after riding 50's and up I feel 25-35 milers are just a
"training" ride for US. That being said we also have a horse that is just before
5 years old that my husband is riding and a 10 year old daughter that is
just starting to ride her horse and LD's will play a very big role in
teaching them how to do this sport. Can you learn it on 50 milers....
Absolutely, will LD's ever diminish ... NO Way! Too many people use them for
different reasons. I really think that 100 milers will not diminish
either. There are too many people like me and my family that have the goals
of 100 milers because of the challenge, they are not easy, and
not something that just anyone can go and do without real sweat,
time, and energy.
I really respect Cindy and Stephs opinions on this subject,
why would anyone want to agree on this subject? That is what makes this
sport what it is and that is something different to everyone.
I can honestly say that I am secure enough in what and why I am
doing and will never get my feelings hurt over others opinions
on whether or not a certain distance is "endurance" or not. There
are many different generation of riders in this group and you bet the "old
timers" have a much different view on things than the newbies.
This is just like life, my parents were stumped because all the jeans in
the store looked old and worn before you have even worn them, now I think the
pants below the hips are just crazy and wonder to myself how these kids hold
them up. It is just a different experiences and time that makes things
interesting.
Just a thought from a "lurker" "LD rider" "Endurance rider" and just
recently a "Tevis finisher"
