Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

The AERC rules state

"...but the competitor is ultimately responsible for self and mount 
before, during and after an endurance ride..."

Would someone please explain how a kid being ponied satisfies this 
requirement of the AERC rules?

I would also like to ask those proposing that there should not be an 
"age rule" is there any age where you have a problem. According the the 
current rule - unless the RM imposed a min age rule in accordance to the 
methods outlined in the rules there is no min age rule. Therefore 
someone could show up with one year old kid. Would that bother anyone? 
How about a 6 month old kid? How about a 3 day old kid? Is there a level 
of pain out there?

Truman

Karen Sullivan wrote:

> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Joe Long" <jlong@xxxxxxxx>
>  
>
> > There is no age at which we are completely safe on rides.  I'm not some
> > starry-eyed idealist demanding total safety -- life is risk, and to live
> >    
> life
>  
>
> > well requires greater risks than just surviving.  My concern is exposing
> > children to unnecessary risk at a VERY EARLY age.  I believe it is our
> > responsibility as the adults running the show to set some standards.
> >
> >    
> I'm in agreement with Joe that a minimum age is NOT unreasonable....Because
> sure enough, once someone ponies a 3 year old on a 25 mile ride (it's in the
> AERC records) , some bozo will pony a 2 year old on a ride....I also
> ask...how many YOUNG kids actively participate in the same venue at the same
> time with adults in other sports?
>
> Given the risks of horseback riding in general, the hazards of the trail and
> other riders and green horses, again, a minimum age is totally
> reasonable......
>
> Toddlers are top-heavy with large heads compared to their bodies, bad
> balance, soft bones, etc.
>
> I hardly see how being required to wait for some minimum age is going to
> ruin some kids life. You proponents of no age requirement keep talking about
> spoiled kids who play video games all day, but you also keep talking about
> young kids who will be "so devastated" if they can't ride.....well, that
> sounds spoiled to me.  By all means, bring the kids to the ride; bring their
> pony or horse and let them do a warm up ride with you, or ride around camp
> supervised; have them help out and demonstrate some understanding and
> responsibilty before being thrown into a sport that also has very hard-core
> adult riders.  A very young child on a horse may be on the same trail as the
> front runners on a 50  on their second loop.....Bring along another parent,
> older sibling, or babysitter while you are at the ride.
>
> And yes, I brought up two kids on horses.  Very disappointed with AERC in
> this matter.
> Karen
>
>
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--

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm 
not sure about the former."  - Albert Einstein


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