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Very good post, Bruce.

When LD rides first became sanctioned, they brought with them a history of being 
Novice Rides, rides that were super cut-down versions of the real thing where an 
inexperienced horse and/or rider could compete, complete and learn about the sport. 
Keep in mind, REAL Endurance was doing 100 mile rides and 50's were thought of as a 
pale second best.  So, while there may have been some who rode the 25 milers because 
they no longer felt they could do 50+ miles, by far the vast majority of LD riders 
were in the above referenced "Novice" group.  The entry fee was low (there were no 
awards other than a small completion award) so it was easy for someone who just 
wanted to give Endurance a try to do so.  There were no competitive riders in those 
early rides.  The only people who could have raced successfully were experienced 
riders with 50+ mile horses but for those riders to have entered an LD and raced 
against beginners would have resulted in their being thoroughly disrespected by their 
peers.  Hopefully those now doing LD rides can see that in this frame of reference, 
where even a 50 mile ride was considered entry level, 25 mile rides weren't even on 
the radar screen.

As time passed, more and more people realized that their horse's age or infirmities 
or THEIR age or infirmities didn't preclude them from coming to a ride and going out 
to enjoy the trails, "like they used to".  So the numbers of recreational LD riders 
began increasing.  In addition, a new breed of LD rider appeared - the competitive 
rider with a fair-to-good horse who for any number of reasons couldn't or wouldn't do 
50's.  They wanted recognition for their efforts and not just some piddling little 
hoof pick or curry brush.  They spent a lot of time, though not usually as much as a 
middle-back of the pack 50 miler, preparing their horses for a 25 mile race and they 
felt they deserved to be rewarded.

So now we have a horribly divisive situation in the LD rides, namely that these rides 
are expected to accommodate riders at the far ends of the spectrum.  While the casual 
LD rider can co-exist quite comfortably with either newbies or the competitive types, 
mixing these latter two together is not in the best interests of either and is 
particularly bad for the horses belonging to the many new riders who have ABSOLUTELY 
NO IDEA of the time and preparation necessary to race 25 miles.  It is this situation 
that prompts so many, particularly in the West Region, with its history of tough 
trails and tough riders - and horse deaths - to oppose, so strongly, racing in LD 
rides.  As if the fatalities of the early years weren't enough, we also have the more 
recent example of Catoosa where a big prize lured riders into racing under-prepared 
horses to their deaths.  As long as LD rides are open to ANYONE, there will be many 
who oppose racing at that level, not because we think the qualified can't do it 
safely but because we KNOW the inexperienced, under-conditioned horse cannot do it.

One solution to this dilemma, and incidentally a possible solution also to the 
problem of charging large non-member fees to newbies, is to divide LD into two tiers. 
 One tier would be open to anybody, mileage could not be accumulated, no BC - only a 
Horse Excellence award available to all entries and a maximum non-member fee of one 
or two dollars.  The second tier would be limited to riders with some minimum number 
of LD and Endurance miles combined (say 150?), mileage to count towards year-end 
awards, AERC BC as currently structured and a non-member fee equal to at least 1/5 
the annual membership fee.

Another possibility would be to change the primary criterion for a BC from a Top Ten 
Finish to a CRI score to be determined by the Head Vet.  Each LD rider whose horse 
met that criterion could stand for BC.

A third alternative, the one currently being supported by many West Region vets and 
RM's, eliminate Top Ten placing as a consideration by judging all entries and do not 
use the finishing time portion of the BC form at all.

And, of course, Bruce's idea of point scoring for metabolic and soundness criteria 
and weight.  The "Top Ten" of those horses could be awarded a Certificate of 
Excellence with the highest score receiving BC.

In any event, insisting that placing and speed be part of the BC award process, in a 
short ride where beginners are entered, is as irresponsible and potentially injurious 
to the newer riders' horses as dismissing as inferior the efforts of LD riders is 
irresponsible and hurtful to those riders.


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