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[RC] Changin' the rules - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Bruce Weary bweary@xxxxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== Howard-- You expressed in your post that you feel those who want to ride LD should be the ones who make up its rules. In what other sport, amateur or professional, do you see the participants themselves (and relatively inexperienced ones at that) making the rules? Let's stay with the equine pursuits only. Eventing? Barrel racing? CTR? Team penning? Track racing? Each of these is governed (and necessarily so) by the more knowledgable and experienced people involved so that the participants (and their horses) may benefit. Even in your riding career, such as it is, don't you primarily derive your opinions from what experience you have had? You would appear foolish to answer anything other than "yes" to that question. And don't you feel more knowledgable regarding distance riding than someone who has never done a distance ride? Of course. Doesn't it seem logical then, even to you, that those with many times the experience and knowledge you have, would, more times than not, be better able to formulate rules governing a sport as demanding as distance riding? Let us remember that opinions aren't facts, although we have all felt that ours were at times. In a democracy we all have an equal right to have and express an opinion. We do NOT, however, have the right to expect every opinion to be weighted equally, no matter how loudly or offensively we express it. Your motives behind the changes you desire for LD seem very transparent. The message that comes across to many, I think, is "We, in our minds, have changed the intent of the LD ride, and have already decided that it is a race, because we want it to be. We ride it like a race. Don't insult us by not giving us more awards and recognition for what we are "achieving." I can assure you that is not the prevailing sentiment of the vast majority of people in this sport. I once heard that we should "Admire the man that seeks the truth. Beware the man who says he's found it." Howard, you seem so certain on such critical issues, but without the credibility or experience to have it "weighted equally" with those of vastly more experience and cooler heads. And I hope and presume that it will continue to be those very experienced, cooler heads who will lead this sport in the future. Bruce Weary ===========================================================REAL endurance is reading the LD vs. Endurance thread/debate every 3 months!!! ~ Heidi Sowards ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ===========================================================
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