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RE: [RC] Tevis 2005-long-PLEASE READ - Jonni Jewell

Because Courtney posted to Ridecamp, I forwarded to one of the board of
Governors, who has this reply, which I am forwarding as she is not on RC at
this time.
Jonni
********************************

The rules of the Western States Trail Ride state that riders 12 thru 17 must
ride with sponsors, and that riders must be 12 or older to participate.  The
Board of Governors understands that there are many riders like Courtney who
consider themselves highly able to complete the ride without a sponsor.  The
Board also knows that the AERC rules are less strict in a number of areas.
Rules for the Tevis Cup have been developed over the 50 years of it's
existence,--considerably longer than the existence of AERC,--and are quite
specific for Tevis trail.

The President of the Western States Trail Foundation has replied to Courtney
and stated that junior riders must be 18 to ride without a sponsor.  It's
quite possible in the past that 17-year-olds have ridden alone.  The rules
have changed over the years in a lot of areas, including those applied to
junior riders.  Not only would it be patently unfair to let some juniors
ride alone while younger, but it would also be a tremendous burden for some
committee to decide which ones are entitled to do so.  The rules are the
rules.  Courtney could just as well be asking the Board to allow her to ride
a 4-year-old horse.

Although Courtney is free to air her grievances in any venue she wishes, the
fact that she chooses to dispute this rule because she can't be bothered to
ride with a sponsor is telling evidence of the level of her maturity.  In my
opinion, a young rider who has the maturity to ride one of the most
difficult events in modern horsemanship, would have the maturity to accept
the rules of that event.  I know of many young riders with skills and
experience considerably beyond that of Courtney's  who have quietly and
cheerfully ridden the Tevis Cup and assisted their sponsors as they did it.
Those riders have also shown good sportsmanship regarding rules and conduct
of the event even when they were unable to complete.

It's time for Courtney to accept the Tevis Cup ride rules and participate,
as others do, within their borders.

Roxanne D. Greene
Board of Governors
Western States Trail Foundation



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