rider fees

[BeckeG@aol.com]

Becke and I have been following the recent “Ride Camp”Discussion concerning 
Pre-registration fees with a great deal of interest.
 
Let us first thank Gene and Shelly Dake for opening thissubject for 
discussion.
 
We have been putting on the Little Manistee Memorial and TinCup Spring Rides 
for over ten years now. In those ten years, we have seen the BUSINESS of 
putting those rides onchange dramatically.
 
You may notice that we have empathized the wordBUSINESS.  We are in the 
business ofoperating the businesses of the LMM and TCS Rides. We’re certain 
other ridemanagers may agree with this concept.
 
As a simple illustration, we offer the following.  The first time we put on 
the LMMR, we dugtwo holes (the campsite in on our private property) in the 
ground.  We then built two outhouses, bought twopackages of toilet paper and 
two bags of lime. With that, we dealt with the issue of toilet facilities.
 
Today.  We have atwo-inch thick file (and growing) of paperwork to comply 
with the MichiganDepartment of Health regulations for the simple rental of 
twoporta-potties.  In addition, we will paya sanitation co. $300 for that 
rental after the sanitation co. supplies theHealth Dept. with a copy of our 
rental agreement.  Then the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will 
issue usan Event Permit after we satisfy and complete their paperwork.  
(Their file is two-inches too and growing)
 
When you factor in payroll (vet’s fees), fuel, food etc.,you develop quite an 
overhead.  Theseare immediate, definite business costs that must be paid 
before a rider pullsher/his rig onto our property, let alone pay a fee and 
ride.
 
Recently, we have been informed by our utility co. that theyintend to seek a 
100% rate increase by April/2001.  If this occurs, do we pass on our 
increased overhead to pumpwater, light our yard for after dark vet-ins etc?  
If we charge a pre-registration fee that is non-refundable or 50%refundable, 
are we cruel and self-seeking, or we trying to operate a business?
 
Contrary, to Louise Reidel’s statement in Ride Camp,concerning UMECRA rides, 
the LMM and TCS rides went $500 in the hole after allexpenses were accounted 
for in 2000.  Wedon’t believe that we are poor business managers, but one of 
the issues we arelooking at for ride season 2002, is the use of 
pre-registration fees, if wecan’t break even this year.
 
The bottom line to all of this is that riders will tell uswhat is needed.  
They will tell usverbally or in writing, or they will simply not show up for 
the rides.  We second Lynne Glazer’s comments that allwe’re really doing is 
putting on a big party for our friends and family. (ThankGod for volunteers)
 
 
Please allow me to add my personal perspective to thisissue.  I don’t ride a 
horse, but Istand (well, I actually sit) in awe of Becke preparing for a 
ride.  She spends at least two days, checking thecamper, the truck and the 
trailer.  Shethen loads all this with horses and dogs. She then drives 100’s 
of miles. Pays a fee to ride 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles.  She then smiles if she 
is lucky enough to receive a completionaward of a T-shirt and/or ribbon.  
Thenshe loads back up, drives 100’s of miles home and is a tired out lump for 
thenext week.  However, she is alreadythinking in her mind “Where I’m I 
going to ride in two weeks” and she’smiling.  Now this is the same woman 
whocomplains when I go fishing and don’t catch fish.  She asks, “Why do I do 
it?” I just smile.
 
In parting, my brother-in-law once complained to me (as wewere going fishing 
in his boat), that it was getting too costly to put gas inthe boat.  I 
replied to him, “If youcan’t afford the gas, don’t own the boat.”
 
Hope to see you all in May and August!!!!
Jay & becke Grams