Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Maybe someone should be requiring intelligence and/or common sense tests of the adults at the ride? I don't know that a minimum age requirement would deter people who have none of the above. Do people actually have TODDLERS at rides and leave them unsupervised?  At least they should be on leashes like the dogs. 

Maryanne

On Dec 22, 2004, at 5:51 PM, Karen Sullivan wrote:

> <x-tad-bigger>Gosh Sandy, thanks for the infusion of common sense! I both cringed at the thought of those toddler's left alone in camp or the worse alternative, all on the trail on a SACTIONED RIDE with Mom!!!? Yes, you have small children, you, as a responsible adult just don't get to do everything YOU want anymore.?</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>?</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>Sorry folks, this whole thing IS getting nuts....get some perspective, or better yet, go hang out at a preschool for a day and then tell me it's okay to take sub-school age toddlers on SACTIONED endurance.? And yes, it's been done more than once.</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>?</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>Based on the very small number of endurance rides I attended 10-15 I am guessing (both LD and 50's), EVEN at those I saw kids that should not have been unsupervised in camp or out on a trail, where focused, intense adults on very fit and strong horses are actually competing.?</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>?</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>Someone said height should not be an issue...pay tell me how a 3 or 4 year old toddler has any possible ability to control a horse on their own in a dangerous situation......with proportionally large head and very short legs that cannot possible conform to horses sides....balance is certainly compromised.....short attention span added in for very young children.? What if the parent (sponsor) gets hurt?? Then the child is on their own......</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>?</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>Again, I strongly state that a minimum age rule to prevent the abuse of extremely young children is going to mainly affect very few, since most parents have more common sense than that....but may protect the very few babies who are taken on these rides.?</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger> Karen</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>?</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>?</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>----- Original Message -----</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger>From:</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>To:</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> </x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>Sent:</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> Wednesday, December 22, 2004 7:55 AM</x-tad-bigger>
> <x-tad-bigger>Subject:</x-tad-bigger><x-tad-bigger> Re: [RC] kids at rides</x-tad-bigger>
>
>
> YIKES! I cannot imagine a ride manager having to get into the business of child care provision. There were many times over the years we simply could not go to a ride - or some other ELECTIVE activity because we had young children. Why don't some adult people who HAVE small children get the fact that havign children is firts of all a CHOICE and secondly, can often times mean that one must sacrifice their own "wants" and indeed at times, needs, in order to do right by their children? I am reminded of my friend who has a new employee who for whatever insane reason insists on bringing her new PUPPY to the OFFICE!! Pets, children, all choices - and they do not belong in certain venues - not running loose at ride camps and CERTAINLY not in the workplace. Wow -if I was a ride manager (Lord help me!) child care would be the LAST thing I would feel obligated to dealing with. Heck, I don't want families hanging around when I give lessons to small children!
> s
Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
miloflamingo.blogspot.com
http://www.alsorat.com