Ridecamp: [RC] Whoops, sent it before I was done....sorry

Sorry to continue this thread? on and on but I cannot let this one go unanswered.........
> I understand that you feel that a age rule isn't right for kids in endurance rides. I can see and know that your view is one sided, knowing that family's whom push their kids and sponsoring some of them at rides. 



I have never sponsored a kid at a ride who was not literally begging to go.? Their families never pushed them, the kids pushed their families...I would never myself push a kid to ride....They are free to quit at any time during the ride without recriminations from me......We are out there to have fun and when it stops being fun, we stop......

> Just because there have been a few kids who made it does not make it a good idea for all. 


There are way more than a few.? Can you name any who did not?

> Only by the grace of God they didn't get hurt, or killed. 



That may be true, I don't know.? They could be hurt or killed in a car wreck on the way to the ride too....

> The only reason a little kid( meaning under the age of? 8 or 9) is out there on a endurance ride is for the parents egos. 



This statement is such a crock it doesn't even bear answering but I will.? The numerous juniors who rode with me did so because they did not have parents who even rode a horse.? They were with me, instead of their parents, because I was the best choice.? Their parents' egos did not even enter into it.? The only reason they are out there is because they wanted to be.? 

> I know I stepped on some big boots here, and know yours are most likely? is one of them, but it has to be said. If not for the ego, let the rule be set. No child was even hurt in body or mind by not riding endurance either.
> All my girls rode at a early age 4 or 5 by themselves. But I would not in my wildest dream? have put them out on a horse on a endurance ride. If you want to know all the reason just check the Cliffy files.HA
> ? I don't want or need to go over it all again and I'm sure you don't care! 


And you would presume to know what is in my mind...That's pretty insulting...I do care or I would not be on the AERC board year after year....I would not be head of the junior committee which I got the board to create......I would not be taking these kids to rides either.  I take the kids to rides, provide them with horses most of the time, sponsor them, take care of them for entire weekends and you have the audacity to say that I don't care.   You need a reality check and maybe some manners before you start bad mouthing me and telling me what I care and don't care about. 

And I stand by the fact that their parents are the only ones who have the authority to let them come with me or not.  If the AERC enacts an age rule, I will stand by it but until then, you might want to talk to some of those poor abused kids who rode with me.  Most of them are grown up and doing quite well and all but one I can think of still have horses and ride endurance.  Melissa is a well known ride vet and rider.    Heather won the Pan Am and also went to Spain as part of our team this year.  Megan and Breanna rode our 25 this month.  Julie is at Cal Poly in college.  Kerry is at vet school at Colorado State University.  Larrissa is grown up and has a 6 year old who would like to ride with me.  Heather's sister also still rides but does not have time for endurance.

Oh yeah, and none of them are into drugs either...................................................

Maryben