OK, here goes with a question to stimulate discussion. When I first started endurance back about 1998, I recall going to rides that really stretched my skills. They were technical, over hill and dale, and up and down things I generally did not do on my own. Heck, I recall feeling totally wiped after 25 miles and (on my first ride) I was shocked (hah) that my horse would be really, really sweaty. Anyway, as a rider and ride manager (I started the Caja (Santa Fe) endurance ride in 2004) my perception is that many riders, LD and other, have both a desire and even an expectation that rides will be much less technical thank what I learned to love. Over the years, the Caja ride has gotten pretty flat, with generally very good footing, and without most of the rocky, technical trails we had early on. So, I would like thoughtful feedback. Do you go to a ride (any distance) that expects you to do what I would call technical riding. Examples might be big hills (lots of elevation gain), rocks, sand, trails with drop offs, very remote trails, loose footing, crossing creeks with lots of downed trees... I hope we still have lots of interest in things technical because those rides gave me the impetus to develop as a rider and to prepare me and my horse to be safe and lots more able to take on whatever the trail (or weather) could throw at us. Your thoughts? BTW, after what we rode in New Mexico (I am now including training rides, Cougar Rock was a thrill but no big deal!
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 02:14:37 +0000
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