I expected strong responses to this statement. So here goes. No I am not
angered over not being awarded BC at a particular ride. I am concerned when ride
managers post in their flyers that they will award a BC for LD at a particular
ride and then announce at the ride meeting that they won't. If the ride manager
states that they are going to award a BC then they must adhere to the AERC
rules. And yes, they are rules. The link for them is http://www.aerc.org/upload/Rules_2005.pdf .
They are listed under rules and regulations. You can read them any way you like
but I think they are pretty clear and straight forward. If they are not rules
why are they listed as rules? Yes I believe they are violations of the rules. I
also feel there should be consistency for all rides in each region. Not some
ride managers posting completion times and some not. Also not some ride managers
posting the completions in alphabetical order and some posting in completion
order. The minute they are posted in order of completion a placing is created
and the AERC rules or definitions apply. This fiasco happened at the Desert Gold
Ride for sure. The web site for the ride stated "There
will also be awards available for overall best condition for both the endurance
and the LD rides." If you intend to give out a BC award then you have to provide
completion times. This didn't happen at this ride and the ride manager indicated
at the ride meeting that he was going to change the way he reported results for
the LD ride because he didn't want to promote racing and felt strongly about it
and it was time to make a statement. Too late for those who might have wanted to
withdraw and get their money back. I don't think the 4-H argument is
valid either. We are not 9 year old children (or is this another form of
disrespect). Personally, I think people who are looking to do "endurance" (50
miles plus) can accomplish the same results without LD rides. It's called riding
conditioning miles and lots of them. One LD will not make an endurance horse or
rider. But the people who desire to do LD rides only should be treated with the
same respect as any other person who shows up at a endurance ride. If the ride
managers and other endurance riders can't do it, they shouldn't offer LD
rides and the LD riders will find other venues to satisfy their needs. In
the long run it is our loss because we will loose the riders who will some day
try longer rides. Take away your breeding ground and your species becomes
extinct
