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[RC] Wussification of endurance - Tx TriggerI know this has been brought up before. I think the ENDURE part of ENDURance riding is disappearing. The sport is changing slowly, to often cater to those that do not want to "endure". Between reading posts on RC, and some of the yahoo groups, I am seeing a trend. Recent questions were asked to a ride manager about an upcoming ride, and the camp. The camp is a parking area out behind an equestrian center. Portable stalls that are there for horse shows may be used for the weekend if one desires. So some of the questions she was asked were if shavings were provided, if the center had showers, and if they could have a trail map emailed to them before the ride. While many may think those are "fair" questions, I looked at them and said "What does it matter?" Go to the ride, pack a bag of shavings if you think you need a stall for the night rather than tie to your trailer, take some baby wipes or use a garden hose to clean up after the ride if you feel you need to, and you will be given a map when you arrive! But maybe some rides have been having those extra amenities to cater to riders that don't like to ENDURE. A post was made about getting people out to try a 100 mile ride. The thing they mentioned was doing a ride that "goes somewhere". A 100 mile ride with either extra long / large loops back to a central camp, or a point to point type ride is one where the adventure is taking you somewhere. Yet, one of the most popular 100 mile rides in our region has many multiple loops back into a central camp, with all vet checks in that camp. 25 miles (longest loop) and camp, 15 miles, camp, 10 miles, camp etc. etc. . Some loops are repeated until you have finally done that last 10 mile loop, to finish riding 100 miles. Riders like having the vet checks where they can go to their huge LQ trailer, take care of their horse, and sit in the a/c awhile, relax, turn on the news on their TV and put their feet up while waiting to head back on to the trail. The thought of having just a crew bag out at an on trail vet check, and only having the basics along to crew their horse is unthinkable to many.I personally think we are slowly losing the adventure part of endurance in many areas. Some will argue that they need to cater to these new riders who want these types of rides, to have ANY rides at all. Thank goodness for people like Dave Nicholson who still put on rides that cater to the adventurous type who not only will ride one 50 mile ride in a single loop out of camp, but who want to do that 5 days in a row with just a single vet check each day, where riders seem to do just find with the crew bag type of check. But in general, I think we are seeing the wussification of endurance. Where are al those tough riders who like adventure, and would like to try a new sport? Jonni =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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