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RE: [RC] Are the LD's feeding 50's? - heidiJonni, "we" are not "against" LDs. Sadly, too often people draw
wrong conclusions as to why LDs are or are not offered.
As Steph tried to point out, revenue is not the only reason why rides
offer LDs. (Thank goodness.) At some rides, it is
logistically not practical. At others, LD simply isn't the focus
that day.
On the other hand, it often IS logistically feasible, and there are
also times and places where there is appropriately considerable focus
on LD. It isn't always about money--it is also about what the RM
wants to do and about what the set-up will accommodate.
That's simply the facts of life.
That said, there ARE some RMs who have definite chips on their
shoulders about LD. That's a fact of life, too. And it's a
free market out there. If there is a big LD market in a
particular area, and a RM is snubbing LD riders, then it behooves
someone else to start a ride that caters to that LD market. It's
that simple.
As for racing, no matter HOW you run the LD, you will find a small
number of people who want to race. You won't change that, no
matter how you divvy out the awards. The only way you can
"handle" such people is to have sufficient veterinary controls in place
to reasonably ensure that they don't trash their horses. (I know,
I know, the rider is ultimately responsible for the health of his/her
horse--but if it weren't for those sorts of riders, we wouldn't NEED
ride vets, who ensure the health of our sport by overseeing such
riders...) But the vast majority of LD riders just want to go out
and complete the trail with a sound and healthy horse, just like the
majority of endurance riders.
One really good tool for dealing with the racing LD rider is the AERC
BC process--and MAKE them stand for BC. Then, if they have
overridden their horses, the vet has a couple of extra opportunities to
examine the horse and to make comments to the rider, as well as a
written format which the vet can use to good advantage, never mind an
awards format where the vet can announce ALL the scores, from the
bottom up, which tends to have the effect of making such riders not
want to have scores like that the next time. (BTW, that is a
useful veterinary tactic at all distances, not just LD.)
Just my .02...
Heidi
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