Re: [RC] Electronic Communication on Trail? - Truman Prevatt
If I am not wrong this rule arose to address crews following horses in
100's at end and "hazing it on." That's a real stretch from the use of
hand held walkie-talkie's or cell phones. In general cell phones don't
work very well where endurance rides are held and hand helds
walkie-talkies are limited in range and even more limited by terrain.
What they may be good for is a ride to notify his crew that he is
coming a half mile or so out - if there isn't a hunk of land blocking
the singal - so they can be ready. However, I sure can't see that that
falls anywhere in rule 6.
Often times I think these rule are passed without full understanding of
what the hell they mean - as you say what is promoting? My horse would
like promoting - that means he would get a raise or in his case more
food and to him more food would be good;-).
Truman
Ed & Wendy Hauser wrote:
"....6k. Not having been paced
or prompted by an un-entered, withdrawn,
or otherwise unauthorized equine, vehicle, or a person other than
another entrant. This does not preclude the ordinary support services
of attendants or pit crews....."
This is an interesting rule. I can
understand that nobody would like to have someone have a half dozen
horses pacing an entered horse for a ride. And obviously hazing has a
possibility of making a tired horse go to fast, but what is "Prompting?"
If I am a crew at an allowed and
scheduled crew stop, and I tell a rider "you are going to fast, slow
down", or "You are running second 10 minutes behind, speed up." is this
not "prompting"? It is also an "ordinary support service".
Some have said in the past that
radio (remember a cell phone is a radio) communication would be unfair
because not all the riders could afford, it or have the technical
skills and license to operate one. At the present time these arguments
do not hold water. FRS radios are cheap, and are operable by small
children. Everyone who wants one has a cell phone.
I really do not care if those I run
against use radios or not, I don't even care to use one myself, but
Truman may be right and the intent of the rule should be made clear by
adding some more words.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser
2994 Mittower Road
Victor, MT 59875
