Re: RC: MALIBU RIDE AND TRAIL INCIDENT

[SandyDSA@aol.com]

While there are many and various good ideas for trying to cub this kind of 
behavior, the best and most available is on-the-spot DQ, temporary and 
automatic sanctions - no participation for a given length of time - and quit 
with the $100 formal protest fee - this is not a protest against anything 
remotely related to completion or win issues - it is an issue of combine 
sense, common courtesy and most dramatically safety. 

Consider the following scenario:

Rider with juniors on tow run a biker off the trail, biker is injured, 
complains to the NPS who in turn not only will refuse to allow the ride 
again, but partners with the injured rider in filing charges against ride 
management for damages. Since this behavior is well known and in this 
scenario, witnessed by another HORSEman (woman), it is pretty much open and 
shut - no more ride, and charges upheld. Well, people, this incident on 
Saturday put us HALF WAY there - if not 3/4 of the way. We don't know that 
this woman won't complain or file charges. We don't know that the Malibu Ride 
will be allowed next year - Karyne has a heck of a time getting it done as it 
is. It is imperative that endurance riders - and RC - consider seriously and 
address this issue before we begin to lose trails and rides because of it.
s