In a message dated 07/04/2007 7:34:39 PM Pacific Standard Time, Magnumsmom writes:
How exactly is "the highest levels of endurance" defined?
It's quite possible most of those 90% of AERC endurance riders you refer to don't believe that the "highest levels of endurance riding" necessarily occur at FEI events.
And for those who do, there is still the issue with whether or not "safely" is paradoxical.
Kathy,
I guess I use "highest level" synomously with bringing a horse to it highest competitive potential. For me that includes a speed component as well as longevity in the sport. I think getting taking a horse safely to it's highest potential is what most FEI riders are trying to do although they may define highest potential different. But this is definitely what I try to do as an AERC rider. (By longevity, I do mean years of competition not number of competition miles). I know I train, condition, and compete with my horses differently than friends I have who are just interested in mileage goals and completion goals. I also I realize that many AERC riders do not choose to ride this way and most FEI riders have this as a goal. It makes sense to me that a program would be designed to help the riders accomplish this goal with a solid training program, knowledge and understanding of sports science theory, the riders being able to put this theory into practice, and good coaching so the rider is relying more on strategy in competition and training and not relying on the horse's natural abilties to get the desired result. I don't see why this would not be considered a good thing.
I strongly disagree with you if you are saying that if you ride "competitively" or ride your horse at it's highest competitive potential you can't do this safely. I would love to hear why you think this is paradoxical. I guess we have become so politically correct in this sport that I don't even feel comfortable using the word "race" on this list even though every AERC ride is a race.
