Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Actually there's more to Edie's complaint than she's mentioning.

Here's the other side of the story.

First - I certainly agree with Edie that we should be ethical in our 
sport.  Following the rules is a part of that obligation for all of us.
I've always followed those rules and when I've observed violations of 
those rules - I've worked to make sure those violations were addressed.

First the rule

8.5.2.1 Heavyweight, consisting of riders whose combined
body weight and tack is 211 pounds or more.

8.5.3.2 Management must exercise reasonable discretion in
making allowances for normal weight loss of rider
during competition and inaccuracy of ride scales. (A
4% allowance applied evenly to all competitors would
be reasonable.)

The allowance is something that AERC believes necessary because scales 
are not that accurate and riders can and usually will dehydrate during a 
ride.

That said - I've ridden for a number of years as a HW.  I'm usually 
about 216 with the lower limit at 211.  I've been weighed at a number of 
rides and always been at or above 216.  I don't ride fast and get 
division points by simply going to a lot of rides.  I've ridden 1400 
miles on two horses this year to achieve a standing in the division 
while others get their points by being part of the top 10.  I'm happy 
when we are in the top 1/3 of the ride.

I do carry a number of items on my saddle - easy boots, tools, and 
emergency supplies that I and others have found useful during rides. I 
also carry 2 water bottles.

On the particular ride below - I drank four 8 oz cans of Ensure during 
the 55 mile ride.  I should have drunk more but it had rained in the 
morning - it was cooler than normal and I never got around to drinking 
very much more.  I always end a ride saying "next time I have to drink 
more".

Edie's statement below "Management told Mike they wanted a weight after 
he went to the Vet" is inaccurate.  What management(Linda Parrish) said 
is that Edie Booth has demanded that you be weighed. Given that I had 
not been drinking much all day - I asked if I could have some water 
before I was weighed.  I drank about 32 oz of water - not the 60 oz that 
Edie claims.

I weighed out at 210 - one pound less than the starting limit but well 
above the roughly 203 finishing limit allowed under the rules.

Edie's statement "I have observed several heavyweight riders working 
their tails off in good honest competition" really means that one of 
these riders is her son who is a HW and on horses she promotes for sale 
at Antique Arabian Stud, Linn and Edie Booth, Canton, Texas. This issue 
would never have come up if I were not in the standings in direct 
competition with her family and horses for sale.

Edie expressed the view that I should be riding above the top of the 
middleweight range rather than at the bottom of the heavy weight range 
because I was close to the limit. I believe it's my option to ride in 
the weight division that I fit into under the rules and meet the weight 
limits.

At the end of the discussion Edie and I had after the ride - she left 
shouting "I'm going to do everything I can do to make sure you are not 
re-elected." This is certainly her attempt to do that.

In any event - I work hard at following the rules. I've always met the 
weight limits for the division I ride in and will continue to do so. 
Ethics are important to me and those who know me understand this.

I'm sorry that unfounded accusations like Edie's come up in our sport.

Mike Maul
ARC #8941


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