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[RC] LD ad nauseum - WRSINOSKYI'm going to do something that will probably ruffle feathers, but since everyone seems to be insisting LD riders defend their reasons for having the audacity to show up at a ride, I just want the better class of people to read the following. I've taken the liberty of changing a few words in Kim's original post to make my point.<From: KimFue@xxxxxxx Subject: [RC]?? LD - Richard Kim stated exactly what I was saying. You don't need an organized ride to know how fast you went or how well your horse recovers. You need placings to compare yourself to a benchmark whether it be yourself or others. Actually, I would hope in a "50 mile ride" that your bench mark would be the challenge of the trail or you and your horse against the trail or comparing your past performances.? But if you are looking at "50 miler" like a "race" against other riders you certainly do need over all placings to judge how you and your horse performed.? Is "50 miles" a race for you?? Why is where you place against other horses so important if you are not competing against them.? Do you really care if you finish before someone who is taking their horse out for the first time?? Do you really care if you beat someone who is bringing back a horse from an injury.? Who exactly are you going to measure your success against? Other riders that are racing the "50"?? Why isn't your time against the trail and other conditions like weather a good measurement of success?? Why isn't the pace you travel a good measurement to your personal success?? Placings are only important if you are racing against other riders. Now, the bit about the mother and 5 y/o with the 26 y/o horse that I deleted, well, I haven't seen all that many on the LD's I've participated, but I guess there might be one or two. Since I'm taking liberties here, I would ask that you bear with me and accept my reasoning for the removal of that one sentence. All I'm asking of our "better class" is that you read my changes for exactly what they are. Then ask yourself if it sounds fair that this should even be presented to LD'ers. Then ask why is it being presented. Doesn't it sound a bit like LD's are being pushed into a corner so that no matter how they answer; they will be wrong? Okay, now I'm going out and riding my horses. If any of ya'll have a conscience, I hope you'll get my meaning. If not, then I can see why this idiotic controversy keeps coming up over and over and over and......... Cindy Edwards Buckeye, AZ Oh! And for the record? I ride LD's because I want to. I will abide by the AERC rules. I love my horses and try my best to give them good lives. When I want to do a 50, my horse and I will. When I think we're ready for a 100, I'll try to do one of those. But I'm too damned old to be pressured into doing something just to please others and get them off my back.
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