Ridecamp: [RC] Very young riders in AERC rides

A few weeks ago there were some posts here about a five-year-old
riding a 100 mile ride.  I did not reply at the time, for fear that
any reply I made would step on some toes pretty hard and rile some
folks up.  But this came up on another list, and I feel I must get off
the dime and try to fix what I regard as a serious problem with AERC
rules.

Here is the text of a letter I just sent to AERC Endurance News:

Joe Long
18230 Appaloosa Road
Monument, CO  80132

AERC Endurance News
P.O. Box 6027
Auburn, CA 95604-6027

Dear Director of the AERC,

I noticed recently that a five-year-old child completed a 100 mile
endurance ride.  A number of people oohed and aahed over this, but my
reaction was quite different.  Frankly, I'm appalled that such a young
child was subjected to the risks and stresses of a ride.

The AERC has had a minimum age limit for horses ridden in AERC rides
since it was founded, for good reason:  to protect immature horses
from stresses that their growing bodies cannot handle safely.  Why do
we not have the same protection for very young riders?

Sure, I know some young kids are naturally good riders, and would love
doing a 100-mile ride.  But young children will happily do many things
that are dangerous or can damage their growing bodies simply due to
over-stress.  We adults must protect them; we must use our good
judgment as to what is reasonable and fitting for them to do.

Some will say, "It's the parents' decision."  Well, we could just as
easily say, "It's the rider's decision" to ride a two-year-old horse
in a 100-mile ride.  We recognize our responsibility in our sport to
protect horses from those who would, through ignorance or unconcern,
abuse them.  We have no less responsibility to young children -- in
fact, I would say we have more.

I implore the Junior Committee to propose, and the Board of Directors
to pass, a minimum age for riders participating in AERC rides.  I
recommend at least eight years old for any AERC ride, higher for
100-mile rides.  Of course, ride managers should continue to be
allowed to set higher limits if they wish (as some rides do now).  I'm
not a doctor and I don't know the extent of the damage to young bones
and bodies that come just from the stress of riding that far, but the
Committee can check with some experts and get information on this, to
help them choose an appropriate age.

I understand that the Junior Committee looked at this some time back,
and felt it was not a problem because only a few children younger than
eight were being entered in AERC rides.  Well, it's happened again,
and even one time is one too many.  How will we feel if a young child
is seriously injured or killed on a ride, and we had the chance to
prevent it and failed to do so?

Thanks for your attention,


Joe Long

-- 

Joe Long
jlong@xxxxxxxx
http://www.rnbw.com




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