I guess I don't really need to chime in here, but as I was a "fly on the
wall" for some of what led up to Keith's experience, I guess I'll do it
anyway...
Just prior to Keith's first ride another person who had been an "E" mentor
for him sent out a rather inflammatory post imploring other riders to keep Keith
from "harming" his horse in his quest to place well. What was NOT covered
for MOST of the folks who were contacted by email or nudged and whispered to at
the ride were Keith's qualifications.
You see, Keith has a LONG history of HUMAN endurance type events (Marathon,
triathlon and ironman competition). He prepared his horse as carefully for
the speed and distance as he had previously done for himself...but without
KNOWING his background, people did, as you suggest, Angie, think that he
probably didn't know what he was getting into....add to that the mass email
asking for someone to stop him, I believe he took the brunt of well meaning but
rather misplaced concern.
Yep, I ride gaited. On a funny breed no one ever heard of...and I
*KNOW* that there were a LOT of folks who were certain I did not belong on the
endurance trail...some were quite willing to let me know I needed an Arab
<grin & wink>. But all in all, I have to say that Endurance
folks are the best of that rare breed of quality people-horsefolk.
Horsefolk look out for horses, and also for the folks that they recognize as
also being horsefolk...they're just sometimes more wary about awarding that
appellation.
So yes, Angie, I think your post is a very valid description of how MANY
folk reacted...but I also believe that, in hindsight, Keith had done more
homework before his first ride than *I* learned in my first year riding
endurance.
So, I guess we're all wondering just what the point of my rambling
is...(not unusual, I have that effect). Basically, just to try and say
that yes, it DOES happen. Sometimes, certain situations make it more
pronounced. Is it getting better? I truly hope so and BELIEVE
so! So, one more time, I will ask ALL of you riders to keep an open mind
about that funny walkin' critter in the next trailer and continue to share your
advice, your water, and sometimes even your anti-monkeybutt powder with what
could just be the newest addict to the sport!
>> After we finished as the only gaited horse
that day in the 50 and were 3rd and firstin our weight division, the race
director told me >>>that we had earned major respect
My only
problem with this statement is that when you cringe at a rider finishing
really fast at their first ride they consider it to be sour grapes. Anyone
who's been around for a while is far more likely to *respect* the rider who
shows up at his first ride, rides a *good* pace on a fit horse and checks out
the sport and their horse carefully before "coming to win". We've seen plenty
of riders we didn't *respect* run too hard and place high.
There's been
just a couple of riders I've worried about through the years who have showed
up *on Arabs* and everyone was alarmed at their quest for a win from the
beginning. After a while we figured out that they were actually very
experienced horsemen with good fit horses. What some newcomers may see as "not
friendly" or "jealous" is actually concern for the horses and our sport. Once
we see they know what they're doing more power to them! They'd probably be
disappointed to know how little most of us really *care* who
wins.
