"The LD also serves as an entry point for new riders and the education committee under Dinah Rojek has done a wonderful job developing an education program for these riders."
We certainly agree on the above statement, Truman.? I see that no one wants to talk about the problems that have arisen from our "progress."? That's OK, but I did notice.? The new rules haven't had much impact on the abusive riders in our sport from what I can see.? And, sometimes taking away rider responsibility and putting it all on ride management, has made it worse.? As to the 8 hour 100s, I would agree that many of them were likely short.? A few were accurate, flat, and really fast...probably too fast, but those rides weren't our big national championships (like international is now) that everyone looked up to.? You didn't see those kinds of times at the ROC or Tevis or Virginia City or Old Dominion.? Now, we want to say that the greatest endurance horses in the world are horses that can survive one or two 8 hour 100 milers.? Just a different way of looking at progress.? There are still truly great horses being produced in our sport with Heraldic being a prime example.? John Crandell was a champion riding under the old rules and is a champion under the newer rules.? I see the great riders remaining great and the abusive riders remaining abusive.?
