 |
RE: [RC] rude riders and rules - Flora HillmanTruman - When the RM holds an AERC sanctioned ride, they ARE part of the AERC -- even if for that day -- in that they are committed to both uphold and enforce the AERC rules and regulations as part of their ride sanctioning. If the AERC mandates a Ride Steward to handle rider complaints, comments and concern, and to act as the AERC representative in helping the RM uphold AERC regulations, then it is a vastly worthwhile service to the riders, to the management, and to everyone who is there, spectators included. The Ride Steward doesn't have to be a paid official -- they can be a selected volunteer who is knowledgeable, trusting, diplomatic, and committed to the ideals and rules of the sport. Nor is it a "few individuals" that are causing the ripples of discontent. I've been hearing about abuse or complaints from almost every ride lately -- so much so that the OD instituted a designated Ride Steward at our last ride to "test the waters" with instituting this at all our future rides. The outcome resulted in a Ride Manger who was delighted and very enthusiastic with just being able to manage the ride without fear of recrimination from anyone who felt compelled to haze her (or any reason whatsoever), and a gracious Ride Steward who was there the entire time to answer questions from grateful newbies who were delighted that there was someone they could approach who was dedicated to helping them, and anyone else who had an issue regarding rules, etc. It was a win-win situation all around. I feel the AERC needs to stop dwelling in the rose-colored past and look at the future of what is happening at rides, at where the growth of the sport is taking all of us with this issue, and be more proactive regarding problems such as this. They are already mandating it on a limited basis -- they just need to institute it on a broader scale, and get in step with the rest of the competitive world. Flora -----Original Message----- From: Truman Prevatt [mailto:tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 11:48 PM To: Flora Hillman Cc: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] rude riders and rules Organizationally the AERC is an interesting study. The RM are not really part of the AERC. They are independents that request and receive sanctioning from the AERC. The RM's provide the funding for the rides and take the financial risk of the ride - not the AERC. They are basically acting on their own. When they receive sanctioning they (RM's) agree to live by a certain small set of standards and rules. The AERC has no proactive policing - except the drug rule. It is done by the protest system. For example no one from AERC shows up and determines that the trail is actually 50 miles long instead of 45 miles long. There are no stewards - it is basically the honor system with the protest system to address rules violations. The exception is rides with a prise over a certain value. The FEI rides have stewards but they are for the FEI portion of the ride. Ride stewards will add cost to the rides. Given the cost of rides today and given the cost of fuel and the other cost involved - I'm not sure the problem is sufficient to warrant stewards. I especially don't think the cost is warranted since for the most part it is a very few number of individuals that are the issue. Truman Flora Hillman wrote: No sport worth it's salt leaves their management open to rider abuse. Our ride managers are too important to us in the time, effort, knowledge, devotion, and sweat they put into managing our rides to leave them as fodder for abusive individuals. Every other high profile equine sport has written rules against abuse .... BUT those sports make sure their rules are followed -- and enforced -- by mandating Ride Stewards at every venue. Driving trials and shows use a Technical Delegate. Unfortunately, only FEI endurance rides, and those endurance rides that have a certain $ amount of prizes, are mandated to have a ride steward on site. The AERC hasn't been proactive in starting to promote the use of a ride steward at regular endurance rides....simply because they figure the current protest system is adequate. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|