Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

As a ride manager I'm glad AERC gives the ride managers some latitude in 
allowing additional conditions/restrictions to deal with special problems & 
requirements at individual rides. That said, I really hate to see ride 
managers abusing this by having them impose additional restrictions on 
entrants in order to suit their personal feelings about what they think 
endurance should be like. The really important things should be mandated 
nationwide. Wide departures from the requirements spelled out in the AERC 
rules should be used sparingly.
IMO, once I request sanctioning from a national organization, one that 
offers points and awards based on nationwide competition, it is no longer 
just "my party". Sure, anyone who doesn't agree with me could just stay 
home---but then I'm depriving them of the opportunity to compete on an equal 
basis with the rest of the country. What happens is you get people who show 
up "under duress", feeling like they are being forced to comply with 
something they disagree with in order to compete for national (& even 
regional) recognition.
And before people jump in and re-hash the issue of why we ride rides, we can 
always meet with like-minded friends and ride, outside of AERC competition. 
We join an organization  like AERC and ENTER IT'S COMPETITIONS for some 
other reason than "just riding". For many it IS the chance for rewards, even 
if it is just tracking your own lifetime mileage & seeing it in print. If it 
is to join an organization where your horse will be heard on equine issues, 
there are other avenues for that also. Some will say they just want to see 
(compete against) a trail that somebody else picked out. It IS about the 
competition, on whatever level. Ride managers need to consider the overall 
impact of "feel good" restrictions for individual rides.
I happen to also believe that riders should stay the night after ride if at 
all possible, unless they live very close to the ride. I don't want to see 
it mandated though.

Nancy Mitts

> > It's too bad many folks can't read what is written....I said for me the
> camraderie for important.  I understand why it isn't for some...in fact I 
> sure
> wouldn't want them to join in unless it was voluntary on both sides.  It 
> would not
> hurt my feelings, as I have already said, if those who didn't like the 
> extra
> rules at " my party" didn't come.  As for your example, I don't take a 
> horse
> to the GERA ride because I feel the conditions you mentioned are the norm 
> and
> too extreme.  Have said the same to RM but this seems to be their only time 
> to
> have this place available.  I went a couple of years ago just to help and
> ended up going to a motel bacause it was too miserable to just stand 
> around.
>
> Susan

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