Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Very young riders in AERC rides

Good for you, Joe.  Although I'm sure everyone won't agree, I am behind you
on this.

Kathy Kelly
Parks AZ

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Long" <jlong@xxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 5:32 PM
Subject: [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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 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws 
 Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)

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