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Re: [RC] [RC] re: any horse can do 25, etc. - Ed & Wendy Hauser"... I have not seen any of the problems with LD that I see people griping about here on RC..." Things are different in UMECRAville. Short CTR distances have always been offered on the same venue as Endurance rides. Many people ride both CTR and Endurance on the same weekend. When LD was first offered no one worried that some people would "go to fast", because the fast riders were experienced and knew how to take care of horses. (I can off hand think of a number of MN horses that have been going fast for 5 or more years with no problems.) Newbe's are encouraged to start with CTR, where they can easily be given a mentor, since everyone goes the same speed. LD rides have placements, and complete year end awards. UMECRA has an excellent horse mileage program, that recognizes 1000 miles horses. All distance miles count equally. The bottom line is since many of the top riders ride Endurance, LD, and CTR (often in the same year), nobody looks down on anybody else. In the Midwest it is quite usual for riders to win year end awards in both endurance and LD or CTR. Being able to compete two or more times on the same weekend sure saves a lot of money. It is a good system. The AERC would be a stronger organization if it developed a national CTR set of rules, and encouraged ride managers to run rides with LD, CTR, and Endurance all on the same venue. While expenses go up, more rides usually means more riders and thus more money. More money makes it easier for the RM to have a positive cash flow. A positive cash flow encourages the RM to offer the ride next year. More rides is a good thing. DISCLAIMER: I know NATRC is national, I don't like their rules. The UMECRA web site lists their rules, other sets of CTR rules exist that could also be used as a model, I just happen to have had experience with UMECRA rules. This type of CTR is what I think the AERC should sanction. I also know that many regional organizations have their own CTR rules. To implement national rules, one would have to negotiate among the various bodies until a compromise set of CTR rules would emerge. I also am aware that some areas would have problems with camp and park ride size limitations. I know that some newbes would still ride LD to fast etc., but most would choose to start with CTR. Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower Road Victor, MT 59875 ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx 406.642.6490 ============================================================ One of the great joys of being a pompous idiot is that you can do and think whatever you want. ~ Homer Safferwiffle ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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