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

In a message dated 10/26/02 8:38:31 AM Pacific Daylight Time, heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

> Why?  I am not a parent, but I was once a child, frustrated by the
> stupidity of adults who would relegate children to mediocrity


We were all once children with our frustrations. At 9 years old I was offered the opportunity to go train and condition horses at the race track, but my parents refused. I was very angry and dissapointed. I began riding at about 3 years, on my grandpas ranch, and this was pretty much an all day thing out mending fences ect. But as a child the parent makes the decisions about what the child will do, or not do. I am not saying anyone is not "qualified" to make a decision about someone elses child, but I am saying that no one else has the "right" to make those decisions, just because they disagree with the parent. Every child is different and no one knows that child like the parent does, or at least should. I am not saying all parents make the correct decisions, or that every child should ride endurance. But parents should be left alone to make that decision. I raised 4 kids, and I sponsor juniors. But, I do not make the decision that the junior will do that ride, or ride that horse. That decision is made by the parent. I am not quali
fied to make that decision, nor do I have the right to make it. I only make the decision to accept responsibility for the junior during the ride. As I said before, I think ride management should make the decision to accept the applicant or not, or to pull the rider if the child is having problems and the parent doesnt acknowledge the issue. This should be done on a case by case only. 5 year olds are racing in sanctioned races on motorcycles, and I would think this would be more damaging than riding a horse. It is also the exception, rather than the rule that a 5 year old does a hundred, or even a fifty. And they dont do this week after week, so any stress would be short term and most likely not to the point of damaging the child. We are no longer an uneducated society, most parents are very well educated and aware of health issues. Endurance riders by large are relatively intelligent people, and caring people and will look out for their children and their health. I admit there are a few idiots out there, but as a rule we deal with 
them quite well and keep them in check. This is why I say only parents should have the right to vote on this issue, they are the decision makers about their children, regardless of who else may be "qualified" to decide for them. No reflection on anyone elses ability. Just their "right" to decide.
Ken Cook, AERC WEST