RE: [RC] LD vs 50--Let's ruffle some feathers - Bob Morris
Joan:
You state<<<Perhaps we should say
that once you are a 50 miler, both you and your horse stay in 50's or at
least 50 milers cannot drop back to LD and change the competitive
level of the LD. It is like the professional who returns to the amateur ranks
for the Olympics. Of course the 50 milers could have the same arguments
about the FEI 100 milers competing in the 50's. What is more likely than
barring movement between the divisions is that we are going to have to
consider some type of handicapping system, at least for BC, if not for placings,
in the different divisions.>>>
Because we as humans often anthropomorphize,
let us compare the two distances to the human Marathon. If the case as you
state it was valid, then any one who ran a full marathon could not drop back and
do a half marathon or even a 10k . Is this really your intent? I believe that
the feeling of being discriminated against as a LD rider is personal and only
occurs if you allow it to be of concern.
Bob
Bob Morris Morris Endurance Enterprises Boise, ID
-----Original Message----- From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Joane Pappas
White Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 11:35 PM To:
Ridecamp Subject: [RC] LD vs 50--Let's ruffle some
feathers
Dear Ridecamp,
I have been reading the posts on LD vs. 50's for the past
several weeks. This debate was one of the first major debates on
Ridecamp when it first started. I was a real Newbie then
(1996--I think). At least a couple of times a year since then,
the debates about LD riders "who race" their horses or "are
not real endurance riders" come up and are tossed around
again. The first couple of years, I even joined discussions at the
national convention about the "injustice" of being discriminated against
as an LD rider---as a lawyer, I don't take such discrimination
lightly or quietly.
I have watched considerable strides made to improve the LD
program over the past 7 years, but this year has raised some new issues
in my mind. Three of us (which includes a junior and a
rookie) started riding together this Spring in the Mountain Region
. We have now ridden over 500 LD miles each during this
ride season so I think we have had the opportunity to make some
observations and draw some conclusions. I would like you to think
about them also, as I believe these issues should be addressed
at both the regional and national levels:
First, many more riders are either staying in or returning to LD
these days. As some of you have pointed out, some of us LDers have
physical issues that make 50's unlikely. Some have horses that
need to be in LD. This summer I had several of the veteran 50+
milers say they just aren't enjoying the longer distances anymore and
have come back to LD because they are having fun doing LD, alone or with
family members. I think that trend will grow as the Baby Boomers
(of which I am one) decide that they don't have to "endure" quite as
much. As that trend increases the numbers of riders
competing in LD, the current second class treatment is not going to be
acceptable and AERC is going to have to address a number of issues that
have not been adequately addressed in the past. A significant
portion of AERC's budget, and the budgets of many ride managers, are
coming from LD and that trend is also likely to continue. The economic
power of the LD riders is now substantial enough to cause real problems
if they decide to organize and force these issues to be addressed. It is
time to find some real answers to these issues and not just keep
brushing them aside.
Second, those who compete in LD regularly would point out that the
ones who are causing problems in LD these days are not the "newbies" who
are happy to accept help and often thankful for advice but, rather, the
50 milers who decided to play for the day, particularly at multiday
rides, and really raced through the LD. Picture a group of LD
riders, the ones you presume are green or on green horses, and now a
bunch of 50 milers and their horses come racing through the trail.
They often set a 12+ mph pace and wonder why the inexperienced riders
try to stay with them and over ride their horses. Then they show
their 50 mile horses against the novices for Best Condition.
Perhaps we should say that once you are a 50 miler, both you and your
horse stay in 50's or at least 50 milers cannot drop back to
LD and change the competitive level of the LD. It is like the
professional who returns to the amateur ranks for the Olympics. Of
course the 50 milers could have the same arguments about the FEI 100
milers competing in the 50's. What is more likely than barring
movement between the divisions is that we are going to have to
consider some type of handicapping system, at least for BC, if not for
placings, in the different divisions.
Third, we have regional officers who don't even know that
there are national awards for LD in best condition much less include the
BC category in their rides. LD is being treated unevenly, not
only between regions, but even within the region. Our Mountain
Region has rides (which shall remain nameless) that barely
acknowledge the existence of LD, provide little vetting for LD, and
absolutely no best condition for LD. Then we get rides like
the Black Hills Ride where the LD riders were given the
same kind and supportive attention as the 50's and were vetted with the
same demanding standards as the 50's. The sad thing is that such
inconsistencies within the Mountain Region mean that the LD riders of
that region cannot pursue what should be the most important and coveted
national award for LDers---LD Best Condition--because so few of our
rides even bother to judge BC. I don't know enough about the other
regions to judge them, but I suspect at least some are like the
Mountain Region. Why did AERC even bother to create the
award if it was not going to require an LD Best Condition to be
given as part of a sanctioned ride? As LD riders, should we not be
assuming the responsibility to get involved in not only the national
organization but also our regional ones so that these issues are being
address but those of us who are affected by the decisions---we really
have been a woefully silent group except on Ridecamp.
