Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

We agree with you totally on this Annie. Riders need to know before they 
leave to go to a ride if there are any significant changes from the AERC 
published standard. Just because a change is being "discussed" doesn't mean 
it is the "new rule". Although I don't have a problem with it being 30 min, 
riders should know before they go. After all, they could theoretically lower 
it to 10 or 15 minutes if they wished, which could leave out a lot of 
horses.
If you can change it at the ride meeting then the veterinarians (or ride 
managers in some cases) can change the ride criteria to make it more 
difficult for certain competitors (knowing that competitor's 
capability/style of riding) to finish the ride. I once saw pulse criteria 
changed while riders were between vet checks! This should really be a no no.

Years ago when the championship was a series we kept running into "cut off 
times" at vet checks. Our style of riding was to set a slow but steady pace 
from the start of the ride & never slow down. Some of the rides would be set 
up with the idea that championship riders should all start out really fast 
and slow down at the end and the "cut offs" allowed for this. (for example, 
one ride we rode allowed 3 hours for the first 20 milies & 3 hours for the 
last 6 miles.)  You'd never know exactly what pace would be required until 
you got there. (Again, to compare the Tevis, you might not know exactly what 
the cut-off time will be at each point, but you know there will be one and 
what the previous year's time was.) Anyway, Monte filed a protest after one 
of the rides saying that it interfered with the way he rode to have to ride 
too fast at the start, it put the ride manager on the back of his horse. 
(And the horse had enough to carry with his big fat ***) He wanted to know 
what to expect before he spent money qualifying for and travelling to the 
ride. His money was just returned saying it wasn't a protestable issue. It 
might have been different if he had actually been DQ'd.
There needs to be a balance between giving the ride managers and vets the 
freedom to adjust to individual ride conditions, and giving riders the info 
they need to choose their rides.

Nancy & Monte Mitts

> From: "Annie George" <annie@xxxxxxx>
>
> If the rule says 'in writing before the ride', I consider the ride meeting 
> being AT the ride not BEFORE the ride. I would think that  would clearly 
> mean  in the pre ride literature sent out to us in advance of a ride. I am 
> asking for clarification from someone that knows, on one of those fine 
> points that does warrant clarification.  When a person leaves home for a 
> ride, he is under certain assumptions about what he and his horse can 
> expect as per their personal level of condition. If he knows one hour is 
> sufficient for his horse, but 30min may be  cutting it close, and he is 
> investing time and money he has the opportunity to make his decision. If 
> the information about altering the standard accepted provided time is 
> available to him to make that decision before he leaves home he has that 
> opportunity. Getting it at the ride meeting could very well be a big 
> surprise. Tevis-Shoes-Kids are all in the pre ride literature we get well 
> in advance of any ride.   Which is what I read the rule to say/mean. If 
> this is something that has come up in the past, and has already been passed 
> upon by the rules committee, or any past discussions or protest, whatever,  
> I would like to know. I am sure others would also like to know. Thus, 
> clarification from some one who actually was there or actually knows the 
> reasons for the change,  or the committee is not a 'rocket science'  
> request.     Annie G.
> Anne George Saddlery  www.vtc.net/~ageorge

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