Posse Ride Ruling

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Sonya Williams tglnwms@worldnet.att.net
It seems that the ruling made by AERC did not consider the whole picture.  Two riders created a nightmare.  Since the ruling is in favor of such poor examples of our sport, endurance and limited distance riders will lose a ride and ride managers.  Therefore in the future trails that are open to horses currently may be lost in the process because of the AERC ruling supporting the riders and not the management or other riders at the event.  Endurance rule 3.3 disqualified the two riders without question despite the ability to appeal.  Wipe hands clean of the situation and no one else will take up the potential of becoming a rider manager.  No support when push comes to shove.  And the ones who have stuck it out every year, despite fussy people (including moi), may very well decide it ain't worth it!  Who can blame them.  So later, can we beat and electrocute our horse for insurance money and still ride that day despite what the vet says?  It's the same thing?  Go figure.  I hope the ruling changes and I'm a rider, not a manager. 

 I'll probably never go to that ride but this ruling affects every endurance rider, limited distance rider and ride manager.  It affects AERC.  Winning is good but not at the risk of that man's life and health.  To not care what happened to that man...it's an embarassment to the sport of endurance.  I reckon I could go on forever about the disgust I feel towards the two riders taht they could go on without realizing what they have done to fellow riders and the sport of endurance.  It ain't a pretty picture folks.