Ridecamp: [RC] [Guest] 5 year olds riding 100s

Lynne Glazer anyone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
(for some reason, I can't post from my registered address. John T?)

Rah, Penny,

------>  opinion follows.  I will go on record saying that I think Joe Long 
is on the right track, that we need investigation into this (but we 
probably can't afford what it would really take, as such a small 
organization).  I believe he genuinely cares about the safety at our events 
and the future health ramifications for ultra-young riders doing endurance 
events.  I don't think one has to be a parent to have a viewpoint on 
this--as an aunt that keeps hoping that by exposure, one of the six nieces 
and nephews will express the horsey gene.

Particularly about YOUNG (less than 8) children doing 100 milers, which is 
where this all started, and I thought it was trying to stay on that 
topic.  Big heads on little necks, lots of concussion/movement there.

I'm someone who believes in minimal rules, in people taking responsibility 
for their own actions, something lacking in general today.  Everybody wants 
to blame somebody.  That is less so far prevalent in our sport.

As a ride manager, I'm afraid.  I'm afraid that someday, some parent is 
going to abrogate their responsibility and blame a ride manager for their 
young kid getting hurt.  Will my liability release stand up in court?

------>  Attempt at objective observation:  there are participants on this 
thread that have made personal comments which constitute completely uncivil 
discourse IMHO.  Why don't you just drop the insults and come back to that 
higher plane--you don't see Heidi using words like yours.  It's like 
inviting guests over to see your place, and your spouse is verbally 
abusive, and you make excuses: "he's not always LIKE that usually, 
REALLY!"  We can all be polite, and not commit character 
assassinations--unless  you know that person face to face--and if you do, 
do the rest of us a favor and take it private.  ;-)

I hope that Karen S and Joe follow through and get this issue to a 
vote.  That's as objective as it gets, democracy in action.

You know, just because something affects only a few riders doesn't mean it 
isn't important.  Like the few times a year a horse dies at a ride.  Or the 
times when a horse is chronically overridden and dies shortly after a 
ride.  Yeah, not many riders cause this to happen--but it's damned 
important that we

Lynne


On Saturday, October 26, 2002, at 06:09  AM, sharp penny wrote:

Sometimes what seems ok in the short term
turns up later in life.


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