BH 100 '08

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by G on December 27, 2007 at 4:52pm

I would like to believe that you could win an endurance event on strategy alone but from what I have seen it would be very difficult to win an event when you are up against riders that have no real regard for their horse.I have on a few occasions seen riders flogging their horses to be the first across the line and if by chance everything goes right for them and by some miracle they don't vet out then how can you possibly beat them unless you are willing to do the same.If you pace yourself well then you will do well if you know your horse and it's fittness level but to actually win is a very tall order.Luck plays a very big part in a ride as with the countless numbers of steps your horse takes over 80kms it only takes one hoof to come down incorrectly or to land on a rock and your ride is over.Yes we can do all the training in the world for an event but if someone has a great horse under them and a bit of luck then how can you win?Longevity for you and your horse is to me the key because the riders that flogg their horses will only be able to do that for a short while and placing well over the entire season is much better than winning a single event.Having said that I do very much want to win an event someday but to do permanent damage to my horse for the sake of a pissy prize and bragging rights, it just doesn't seem worth it. It does seem to me to be relatively easy to place well if you have done the miles in training and you have a strategy for the ride.I am by no means an expert but I have placed a couple of times and it was purely because I kept an even pace,didn't stress the horse and kept my wits about me.When everyone takes off at the start and passes me I know that I'll be seeing most of them again as I trot past their weary horses with 10kms to go. It is a great feeling let me tell you but it is a long way off winning time.It amazes me the speeds that winning horses can travel and I would think I'm a few years off having the experience to push a horse that hard and also having the horse that can do it.To all you winners well done I'm envious of you but to you winners who go too hard it's the opposite.I wonder if those people know who they are or whether they don't realise?My guess is they don't think enough to realise. See you out on track soon!!! G

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by bayrab on December 28, 2007 at 10:28am

G. M y feelings exactly! My goal is to have fun and bring a healthy, happy horse over the finish line. My two top 10s have been flukes, I simply outlasted everyone else in bad weather, hahahahaha.

I get joy out of spending time with my horse. Yeah, it's fun to be ahead of somebody, LOL... but am not going to hurt my horse for the sake of t-shirts and trinkets and bragging rights. I admire the hotshoes who can do it well and take good care of their horses but despise the ones who blow thru horses every two or three years running the legs off them....

chris

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marirose Six on January 11, 2008 at 1:16am

Howdy Cindy,
Do you bay chance know if they've nailed down a date for 08? I've got a friend in MI possibly coming out, but he needs the date to figure out his vacation time.
Also, any idea if they are going to get the website back up?

▶ Reply to This