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[RC] Non-Entered Rider - Anna Diggs
My friend and I both aerc members and riders were discussing the
non-rider issue. These are my friends remarks which I tend to agree
with.
First issue: Newbie having friend who's not entered pacing her.
Weeeeelllll ..... I don't like it either, They in some small way
partake of the ride, but doesn't financially or with volunteer work
support it. It's no big deal if one does it, but if more and more people
just ride the ride, but don't pay .... So I guess I agree with the rule
(didn't know there was one) that you can't ride along without paying.
Kinda hard to enforce, so more up to the honor system. ("No, we just
happened to run into each other on trail, had no idea she was out here
today pleasure riding, and we just happened to end up riding the same
trail at the same pace at the same time ....")
Second issue: Closing trail and camp ground to all but enduro
participants. As the one lady pointed out absolutely correctly: that
won't endear us to anyone. Share, ya'll!!!!! Besides, it's great to have
the sport in the public eye at such a glitzy moment. It's great and
cheap PR and advertisement. Years and years ago, before I started
enduro, I saw endurance riders, asked about what they were doing and
thought: "Wow, that sounds like fun! Gotta try that." And the next year
I rode my first 25. So while the weekend trailriders riding through the
vet check are a bit irritating at times, it's a great opportunity for us
to show them what a fun and friendly group we are and what a great sport
endurance is. Maybe out of 20 that see us that day, one will end up
trying the sport - if we were nice. If we were nasty, for sure the tally
will be zero.
Great opportunity for desensitization, all the trail riders, hikers,
hunters, bikes, etc. Certainly don't get that at home on our trails ....
:-) If you want the trail cleared of anybody but enduro riders and
horses, buy your own 10,000 acres, built and maintain 50 miles of marked
trail and throw your own ride. If you for some reason can't afford all
that and have to ride on public land, grit your teeth, smile and say
Thank you very much for letting me use this and I'll be HAPPY to share
with the rest of the public.
And that was my 10 cents worth of opinion on that discussion ....
B.
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From: "Jonni" <jonnij@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: [RC] riding with non-entered riders
The LBJ Grasslands where the Bluebonnet ride is held, is indeed a very =
public, well used trail system. When events are held, be it the rides, =
or the 50 mile foot run, other users have full use of the trails, and =
camp area if they desire camping in such a busy area. I put out a sign =
this weekend that said Ride camp at the camping area entrance, in hopes
= weekenders would see that it was an event going on, not just a busy
day. = On the trail, we passed many pleasure riders during the day.
Slowed = down, said hello, and other pleasantries, then picked up the
pace again. = In the camp area is a large metal trough, with windmill
pumping water, = and a pond. Again, very public place, with pleasure
riders passing = through, right next to pulse and vet check on the way
to water their = horses. Never any real problems with the pleasure
riders except one who = occasionally rides through the vet trot out
area, not knowing any =
better. So yes, trails can be ridden by anyone during the ride. =
Management fills about 8 troughs near the big windmill trough constantly
= all day for scooping water on horses and cooling them down with a pump
= in the pond. Keeps a volunteer pretty busy with 130+ horses entered on
a = hot day.(this leads to another issue in a min.) So, while riding, I
did = see an entered rider pass, with a rider whose horse did NOT have a
= number on it's hind end. It was obvious they were riding together. My
= riding partner asked if they were both in the ride. Reply was yes,
from = entered rider, but when questioned on lack of number on other
horse, = rider said "well, she is just riding with me". We explained
that was a = rule infraction, and they could not do that. At that
moment, the non = entered riders was ahead 75', with entered rider
following. We explained =
pacing etc. etc., and why it was not allowed. When we got in to camp =
for our vet check, I see non-entered rider cooling horse down from =
troughs filled by volunteer, and checking pulse of own horse. Very =
obvious this person is somewhat interested in how the horse is doing, =
but my gut feeling was, did NOT want to pay entry fee to actually =
"compete". Oh, the entered rider I heard came in "top ten" on the LD =
ride......... So, public trails or not, this was indeed a rule =
infraction. Did the rider know they were not allowed to do this? I'm not
= sure. Someone just sent me a note they saw some other entrants at the
= ride, riding along with non "numbered" horses.
On non-public trails, I can see this as an insurance liability. Also, I
= can see if allowed, how those who want to really "race", might try to
= have friends positioned along the trail with fresh horses, to ride
along = with, to keep the entered horse company, and mentally cheerful
to move = along, possibly giving it an advantage over other entrants
without = "friends" to ride with.
Jonni
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