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Re: [RC] FORWARD WITH PERMISSION OF WRITER.. - Barbara McCraryA very well thought-out message, and I think it's right on the button. I love LD rides for exactly what they were designed for: young or green horses, horses recovering from injury, riders new to the sport, older or injured riders incapable of doing longer distances. But don't call them "endurance rides". They are not endurance rides as defined in the bylaws. If someone wishes to make a career of shorter distances, 1) ride NATRC, 2) ride competitive trail rides, or 3) accept LD rides for what they are; don't try to push AERC into making them into something they aren't, or shouldn't be. I know this opinion will not set well with many, and yes, I'm one of the old-timers who's been around this sport since 1969. Louise Riedel, for at least 25 years a Central Region director, used to talk about the CTRs that were held along with endurance rides. Maybe it's time to look into this venue? But then, the CTRs were sanctioned by UMECTRA, not AERC. Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jonni Jewell" <jonnij@xxxxxxxx> To: "Ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 10:18 AM Subject: [RC] FORWARD WITH PERMISSION OF WRITER.. I think many of the ride managers in the West and PS have been LONG time ride managers, involved in the sport for many, many years. They are seeing the sport changing away from some of the original ideas of ENDURANCE being 50 or more miles, and LD rides are training rides. Some of these managers have seen problems when speed is encouraged in a LD ride...either from using it as part of the BC judging, or by giving placings, or some fancy award for the first horse to finish. Different managers have found systems that work very well for the LD rides they offer in conjunction with the Endurance ride. Some rides don't offer BC at all, and even announce the LD finishers in no specific order, or even alphabetical order, to not recognize speed as a factor. And you know what??? Riders keep coming back. So it works for THAT management and that ride. The more we push for awards in LD ( year end, regional etc. etc. ) the more some of these managers are seeing what they feel is the sport being watered down, and moving away from encouraging riders to move up to longer distances, as the sport was founded on. And don't get going on all the reasons many riders do LD, and it supporting the sport etc. etc. We have all heard that. And yes, even some of these old time riders who have been around a long time, will often take a horse in a LD ride for training. (but they are not the ones who care about the awards either) BTW, the terrain and weather are sure not the same in every region. Here in the CT region, even a hot humid day at some of the local flat rides could not compare to the mountains in California. Much tougher trails out west than many other areas. Jonni ============================================================ You don't have to be a 100-mile rider or a multi-day rider to be an endurance rider, but if you want to experience the finest challenges our sport has to offer, you need to do both of those. ~ Joe Long ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================ ============================================================ Common sense should also be a part of the decision making process. If you see someone who doesn't have any, hand them your tool box. ~ Lisa Salas - The Odd Farm ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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