Endurance riders have found themselves in a unique situation that brings horse people together not only from the U.S. and Canada but from all around the world. Lasting relationships have grown with people who are from places that are located many miles apart who would have never had met if it weren't for this sport.

Many of us have even had the opportunity to visit foreign countries and ride horses belonging to people that we have met only because of endurance. Some of us have had the opportunity to enter rides such as the Tevis or the Old Dominion on borrowed horses -- and return the favor when we have the chance.

When traveling across this great country with horses in tow, it is such a pleasure to have homes and barns open up for layovers along the way, and making us always feel welcome. It is a great feeling to also be able to give assistance to our fellow riders when they are in need.

An amazing phenomenon with this group of riders is that almost all of them are willing to share their vast knowledge of horses and the special skills that each one possesses to get a horse safely and swiftly through endurance rides. They are willing to share their training, electrolyte and feeding programs. They are willing to share their saddle and tack knowledge which could save us from going through some not-so-pleasant learning curves that they had to endure.

We have members that we are proud to call our friends who have been riding endurance horses longer than a lot of us have been alive. These people not only share their knowledge anytime we ask them for advice but have also written books, and make comments on endurance discussion groups sharing their experiences. Some of us spend a lot of hours together either traveling to the rides together, out on the trail all day -- and sometimes all night -- and in the camp until we just all seem like part of a big extended family.

When one of our endurance friends loses a beloved horse or dog we grieve with them. When we lose one of our members we grieve for them as well as for their family's loss.

If you are new to the sport and have not had a chance to make acquaintances in the way I am writing about, then you will soon find out that you have some great fellow endurance riders that in time you will learn to love. The veteran endurance riders love the enthusiasm of the new riders and will gladly share their knowledge with all who seek their advice. They have been mentoring riders for so many years that it is second nature to them.

If you have the chance to come to the convention, do not pass it up. You can visit with all your friends and meet new ones without having a horse with you that is needing your attention like we normally have with us at the rides.

Go up and introduce yourself to an old campaigner that you have been reading about for years; he or she will be glad to sit a spell and tell you some good old tales from past rides that will be sure to entertain you.