Seems some here have restarted an argumentative
discussion that has been beat to death in the past. Each person rides
whatever for whatever reason/s. I have had to restart with new horse so
many times I have lost count. We start with the 25-30 mile rides for our
personal reasons... HOWEVER, there is a BIG difference between riding a 25 and a
50. Too bad the horse can't type in English here.... the horse could
say a few things to the humans......... about the
difference!!
GEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS get off the snobville
calling, etc. Don't read what is not there.
Heck, I am glad to be able to ride. TIme and
money dictate the 5 w's of all of this riding. After riding most of the
distances... I KNOW they are NOT the same. The older I get the achier I
get. A horse, or human, might be able to do a 25 just fine but not a
50. Be thankful that there is an opportunity for any of it.
I just don't get the reason for all the name
calling here..............................
>Mary
Ann Spencer's comment to a newbie; "Remember 25 milers are NOT true endurance
but a place to start."
>There's is always someone who will tell you
25s aren't much because they're doing 50s, or 50s aren't much because they're
doing 100s. They're just stroking they're own ego. I don't pay much attention
to people who spend alot of time stroking themselves.
There's a
judgemental statement -- and what do you think you are doing by writing
this? Are you not stroking YOUR ego? Or engaging in some
"sour grapes?"
>Endurance is working hard. Preparing yourself and
horse and pushing yourself while riding within your current limits. That may
be a 25, 50, 100, or multiple 100s. Set your own realistic goals and go for
them.
That's all true. However, you are confusing the definition
of the word "endurance" with the definition of an "Endurance Ride."
An Endurance Ride, by definition in the AERC Bylaws, is an event with one
rider/one horse of at least 50 miles length.
An LD ride is a
worthwhile event and competing in them worthwhile goals, that does not make
them endurance rides.
>When someone tells you a 25 isn't endurance
you can have the smug satisfaction that someday when that person is old,
tired, and in their 90s a 25 is no longer within their capabilities. Ask them
then what endurance is. It won't be measured in miles, but in feet between the
living room and the bath room, and if they can make it in time.
When I
am too old or too infirm to ride 50-mile rides (but still able to
ride 25-mile rides), I will no longer be an endurance rider. That
will not diminish by one iota the accomplishments I have earned
previously. When I am too old to ride 25 miles I will no longer be an
LD rider, either.
