"...50's & 100's are no longer the be all and end all of distance
riding."
I'm thinking that the American ENDURANCE Ride Conference
is a fine name.
The AERC is not Competitive Trail Riding.
It was founded as an "endurance" riding organization.
When folks say they are endurance riders, who have endurance horses, and
they ACTUALLY ride endurance, I think it is a wonderful thing.
In my estimation, in the horse world, it is something which cannot be
equaled in any fashion, other than in the actual doing.
There are opportunities for many to ride horses on trails as fast and as
long as they wish even without being "endurance riders". So, why do some
join an Endurance organization if "endurance" is not something which they wish
to do?
As for Limited Distance Rides, they are what
they were before the latest bunch of limited distance riders
ever showed up and rode them, and THEN, started wanting to change them.
I'd say, join the AERC, let your Limited Distance Committee folks know how
you feel and, if nothing changes regarding LD's, decide what it is you want to
do and where you want to do it. Competitive Trail Riding offers GREAT
opportunities for riding shorter distances and getting judged as great horsemen
and women and getting all kinds of awards. And, if one chooses to
pursue LD as members of the AERC, GREAT, that's wonderful. The AERC loves
your participation, I'm sure. Get your miles and feel good about
yourselves. Get your awards and feel good about yourselves. Why
would anyone want to participate in LD if there weren't beau coup awards
available? If recognition is a predicate for success in Limited Distance
riding, I guess finishing in the Top Ten and getting your horse evaluated for BC
might just be important...if recognition is the "be all and end all" it
is being made out to be.
