Ridecamp: Re: [RC] What are the facts on min age issue?

Actually there are no "facts" on this issue. Everyone wants to compare it to horses, little league, ect.. The number of little people doing endurance is so small you wouldnt be able to get accurate statistics. These kids at this age arent racing, and are riding horses so dead broke that they would make rental strings look wild and usually start at the back of the pack. If you want to compare it to something, compare it to skateboards, bicycles, motorized scooters, atv's, waterskiing, or even racing motorcycles, ect. I think you will find our sport to be much safer and with less likelyhood of injuries. I realize that on first impression a 5 or 6 year old doing endurance makes you go, what the heck! But these kids are raised on horses and are generally doing something they like and are spending quality time with thier parents and having experiences they will never forget. And they arent doing it every weekend. It is up to a parent to decide 
if thier child is ready for this or not, and for them to monitor thier progress. We cannot and should not regulate parenting for the sake of the few who make bad decisions. Ridemanagers can monitor these kids and if a parent is pushing too hard or riding in an unsafe manner for the child the ride management has the right to pull the riders in question, and should. This is a sport of minimal rules, that is why we love it so much, the horses and family are the responsibility of the riders and parents. We all make good and bad decisions, and we have to live with the results. good or bad. And if this issue came to a vote, only parents should be allowed to vote on it. As those without children have no basis other than emotion to be qualified to vote. 
Ken Cook, Aerc West