Hey, Diane. This is the most constructive question asked in this entire
discussion. This is the question the membership should be asking the AERC
LD committee. Below are my opinions of what the LD should be for.
>If limited distance rides are "training
>rides", then exactly WHAT are we training for?
Horsemanship, conditioning and FUN. IMO, the point to LD (or any distance
for that matter) is to get the horse through the course, sound and with
energy to spare, in the shortest time possible, contingent upon his level
of conditioning. This is called horsemanship. It takes knowledge and work
and if you don't get too anal or competitive about it, it's FUN.
>What is the skill set
>expected to be mastered at that level?
For LD, the horseman should master controlling the horse; establishing a
pace; maneuvering obstacles; recognize the signs of overtraining or going
too fast; and know the AERC LD rules. (Hey, sounds like Competitive Trail
doesn't it?) Oh, yes first and foremost, HAVE FUN.
>Can one safely skip this step and
>start with a 50?
Yes.
>If so, when and how would this be appropriate,
The horse must be over 60 months of age.
So,IF that rider
1)has been doing Competitive Trail SUCCESSFULLY or,
2)has taken an extensive (at least a week including riding) course in
endurance riding or
3)has EXTENSIVE life experience of trail riding and horsemanship or
4)is a junior and is riding with an experienced sponsor
THEN it's OK to skip LD.
However, I think that if ANY PERSON feels they can skip LD, that's fine!
If their skills are not up to par, the veterinary criteria in endurance
rides are designed to take care of those situations if the ride is properly
run. SO, LD is NOT REALLY a necessary step. I think the novice rider is
MORE LIKELY to learn horsemanship by getting PULLED from a 50 than WINNING
(first to finish) a 25 and the horse will suffer less too.
>and what
>cautionary statements might one offer to the prospective new endurance
>rider?
(I'm assuming you mean starting first ride on a 50 instead of LD)
Try to be the LAST RIDER into the FIRST Vet Check.
Linda Van Ceylon
lvanceylon@vines.colostate.edu