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[RC] The cost of rides - Bruce Weary DCI think we should re-think the value of what we receive and enjoy for the cost of a ride fee. Even at $85-100, you get to camp out (under the stars, if you wish), and ride 50 or more miles of trail that has been cleared, made safe, and marked just for you. You get to have a vet or two (with several years of post-graduate education and experience, as well as AERC training) check your horse over, several times before, during and after the competition. Those same vets will get up in the middle of the night, if necessary, to treat or save the life of your horse without an extra after hours emergency call charge. You may win a T-shirt, bucket, halter or some such coveted item for your efforts. For an extra ten bucks or so, someone will provide you a hot meal in some far-flung forest or basecamp, usually miles from civilization, at a time when you're too tired to cook for yourself. You get to test your mettle and that of your horse and the bond between you in a way you just can't through a training ride at home. Ride management will forward records detailing your accomplishments that day to AERC, who will then collate that information into their system to track your successes and failures for you. If you get lost, someone will know to come looking for you. Volunteers along the trail will track your progress, steer you the right way, refill water bottles, and wish you a good ride. They don't do it because they heard you spent $100 and deserve to get your money's worth. They do it for the same reason you are riding--for the love of the outdoors, horses, and our sport.Some riders who travel alone, get a break from a non-participating spouse (or vice-versa) for a weekend. In fact they might just cover the ride fee just to get you out of the house for a while! Your dogs get a chance to pee on new trailers, trucks, and camping equipment they've not seen before. And, as many have said here on RC, it's cheaper than anti-depression meds or a visit to the shrink. OR, ....................Your $100 will buy a nice dinner out or about 35 gallons of gas. You choose. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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