I don't know what happened this weekend in the Ozarks, but below
is an interesting quote:
"But one point I want to make... our "little" rides here in
the Ozarks are like small backyard horse shows, people come to the rides
to have FUN, relax and enjoy the trails with their horses and
friends. There is a little friendly competition, but that's not the reason
folks are coming to our rides.
We have a strong "To finish is to win",
ethic here and we don't care about trying to beat a course record
or seeing how fast you can finish the course, just because you can.
If you want to play the "I'm better than you game" don't bother us
here in our little neck of the woods. We really don't need those types of
riders to come and run our ride managers off."
Every AERC endurance ride recognizes placing and every AERC endurance ride,
regardless of the atmosphere, and contributes to the regional and national
awards. Many of these awards are based on speed or
placing. Although every AERC sanctioned event is a ride every event
is also a race. As a ride manager, you can try to create an atmosphere
that may minimize racing but if competitive riders show up with fit horses,
follow rules, pass vet checks, and are not rude, they should be able to
attempt break a course record if they want to without being put down
by riders or ride management. They should be treated with the same respect
as last rider on a 100 mile ride who chooses to take 24 hours to complete even
though the rider who finishes in front of him finished 6 hours before.
Tolerance has to work both ways in this sport.
So are you guys complaining about riders that are being rude or
that riders that are being competitive? There has to be room for both
types of riders (racers and completers) at AERC rides BUT there
should be no room for any rude riders.
Until AERC sanctions rides as "completion only" and does not recognize
placing at rides, I think that ride managers and riders do have to have some
tolerance for competitive riders and racing to some degree. It is
part of this sport. To me, the below quote sounds like they
only want non competitive riders at their rides Can you imagine if this
attitude was reversed and only welcomed hot shoes?
