<% appTitle="Ridecamp Archives" %> Ridecamp: [RC] Starting a 2nd horse in a ride (Mitts reply)
Ridecamp@Endurance.Net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]
Current to Wed Jul 23 17:30:23 GMT 2003
  • Next by Date: [RC] Lunging for Exercise
    • - Stephanie Caldwell
  • Prev by Date: RE: [RC] Navicular Horse
    • - Karen Standefer

    [RC] Starting a 2nd horse in a ride (Mitts reply) - Jim Mitchell

    Nancy Mitts wrote:
    >Can I go back & grab my other horse if I have one? No wonder these
    >rides are so popular!
    >Yes, this goes way beyond any one rider or RM, it's apparently the ingrained
    >culture of the multi-day format.
       I'm sorry, I just don't get this attitude. I believe our RM are ethical people with intergrity. And they are also our front lines for this sport. So I am at a ride with a spare horse. My started horse comes up lame at 1 mile. I can't go back and start another horse to have a good time, see the trail, enjoy my friends, the beautiful country etc, Because to do so would violate some sacred AERC rule. I can see the problem if this gives me some great point advantage. But it doesn't. So where is the harm. I don't get this selfish, me against you attitude that can't stand for somebody else to have a nice day. I have never had this happen to me, nor do I know of it happening, but it probably has. This is a hobby, we are supposed to have fun, these are amateur rides with no money and little in the way of awards. I'm sorry that some slight possibility of this event somehow (pretty remote) changing some year end award is reason enough to not let people enjoy themselves. AERC rules seem to be set up to award completions to a team that finishes the course. A pull or starting a 2nd horse like mentioned above doesn't change the fact that a team covered the course in the allotted time. There ought to be some room for RM discretion. RM's are trying to help their customers have a nice day when they don't see who it hurts.
        Those that want to get on the rules bandwagon again, those that have been getting so indignant about possible minor rule violations. I expect you all to go to the nearest police station and turn yourself in the next time you go over the speed limit anywhere. After all this is a state law, not an AERC nonprofit org rule. And anybody that has crossed a street somewhere other than in the sidewalk, be in line behind them. And anybody that has or is using illegal substances, join the line.
     
       Jim Mitchell