NATRC for learning

[connie B Berto <cberto@juno.com>]

I agree with Heidi and Jm about the value of NATRC events as
teaching/learning occasions.  I started out with NATRC in 1972 and all
the advice I got then was "Your horse has to be immaculately clean when
presented to the judge."   That has stuck with me ever since, and  my
horses have loved that part of it!   Seriously, though,  you learn to
pace and to care for your horse without resorting to gimmicks or OTC
boughten stuff.  You learn to disregard the nitpicky remarks (I've been
dinged by "Your horse chews his bit too much" and "Your saddle scoop
makes too much noise") and pick up on the truly thoughtful judgments that
will, after all, only improve your horsemanship and safer, basic horse
care and stabling.
    However, I believe that AERC allows more opportunities for better
horse care on rides and has a much more democratic (small d) following. 
For  instance:  in NATRC, you may not advance while dismounted.   Now,
who has not had occasion when dismounting and handwalking the horse is
without question the best and most necessary  thing to do at that moment?
 In NATRC, no corrals are allowed (tie up to trailers) and no horse
walking after 10 p.m.   C'mon!!   Is that really going to change the
scoring, which is badly in need of revision anyway??    
   I like NATRC because it now provides me with a check on how I'm doing
and what horse training needs to be worked on.   We've won our share of
ribbons.  Besides, if you don't go at it with a life-or-death attitude as
some point-chasers do, and if you disregard the cliques and sotto voce
remarks, it's a whale of a game for a fun weekend!    Regards,  Connie B
   

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