Re: RC: ride managers

[terry woolley <cancer@simplyweb.net>]

Terre,

This has been discussed at the board meetings before.   The reason that they require that the ride manager be a member (whether the "official" ride manager or "queen for a day") is that they want someone who is familar with the sport and the rules involved since frequently there are questions that come up during the day that involve someone familar with the sport, policy, and has some background of the sport.  A land owner, etc., who was not familar with the sport and rules could make an "on the spot decision" which could effect the outcome of the race and leave the ride open for a protest.  It seems hard to imagine that there wouldn't be some AERC member in the area who couldn't step in to manage the ride for a day (someone whose horse maybe was lame or, hadn't had time to train, etc.).

To be truthful,  I manage the rides in San Diego, and I would have a real problem turning the ride over to someone else for the day since I find that so many things come up during the day that need handling for the ride to run smoothly.  Of course, I would love to ride my ride since I know the trail, it's close, etc., but I choose to the put on the rides, and just accept the fact that I have to travel to participate in rides.

Terry Woolley Howe

terre wrote:

> Here's a question for you guys, perhaps before Convention (altho I think it's probably too late for this year):
>
> I am in an area where there are not that many endurance riders, and even fewer rides. So quite often, the rides are put on by avid endurance riders who, of course, would like to ride their own ride and therefore have a Day Manager. The Day Manager, like the ride manager him/herself, has to be an AERC member. This means purchasing a full membership (including delivery of Endurance News, Yearbook, ballots, etc) for someone who has no interest in the sport except for managing the one ride. (Often these people may be the owner of the property the ride is on, or a non-riding spouse, etc.) It adds to the cost of the ride (which must be shared over a small number of riders), and is essentially a 'waste' of a membership (IMO). Do you not think there should be a membership option for "non-riding ride managers" just as there is one for "non-riding vets"? Obviously, there are no points being tracked, or anything. The recent thread about 'oldest ride manager' reminded me of this--how many ride
> managers do you think there are that don't ride? Do you think this is a significant enough issue to warrant consideration?
>
> Terre
> I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said I don't know.
> Mark Twain
>
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