ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: 25 mile rides

Re: 25 mile rides

Dorothy Beebe (daadmin@psln.com)
Mon, 21 Jul 1997 07:41:28 -0700

>
> Hi Dorothy,
>
> I hate 25-milers. There are many reasons, here are a couple:
>
> 1) The distance is too short for an aged horse (over 5yo) who is fit to
go
> because they will not learn anything about endurance. If they are fit,
> they are usually still stoked by the end of 25 miles and haven't found a
> rhythm yet.

That was sure accurate with Elly!
>
> 2) The distance is too short for most newbie-riders because they don't
know
> how to establish and maintain a pace. So, they go at the horse's pace
and
> neither they nor the horse learn anything. (Unless, they get pulled.
Then,
> hopefully they've learned a little of what not to do.)

Luckily I never got pulled. I did try to establish a pace with Elly, but
she had her own ideas!!
>

>
> Although, I must say I loved my first 25 in 1979. I was an out of shape
> rider on an out of shape, wize, old mare, who really took care of me.
> Eventhough it was my first 25-miler, I was one of the most experienced
> riders on that distance because of my prior trail riding. Most of the
> other riders were Kamikaze idiots who were out to RACE the entire course.

> Many of these folks were humbled at the first hill, about 3/4 mile into
the
> course when they were unseated from loose saddles or from smashing full
> speed into the trees at the top of the hill. Additional RACER's winning
> hopes were dashed when they went off course as they blew the turn at the
> top of the mountain at mile-10. I got lost about 2 miles from the finish

> and did a really pretty 5 mile loop for the second time. I loved every
> mile of that ride and my second ride was a 60-miler.

I should have had a wise old mare to babysit me...then I would have at
least had some fun.
>
> I've only done a couple other 25 milers since then. I hated both of
those
> for reasons similar to your experiences. In retrospect, I entered
neither
> 25-miler for good reasons & should have entered the 50-miler in one case
> and should not have ridden at all in the other. I had bad experiences on

> both of those rides.

I'm only doing 50's until its time to break Andy in in another 3 years.
Then I may do just one 25 on him and move on immediately to 50!
>
>
> Good luck in your Endurance career, Dorothy! (Sounds like you've just
> about outridden your "newbie" status:-)).

I think I'll always be a newbie. Learning is what its all about!

Happy trials...

Dorothy & Elly (Another 50? This weekend?????)
taylorsville, CA

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