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Re: [RC] Endurance rides and rising costs - Barbara McCraryAs a long time ride manager (35 years), we require pre-registration. We have to order meals from a caterer, and if some don't pay up front, if I order a meal for each of them and they don't come, they haven't lost anything - I have lost the price of a meal, because I have to pay for what I order. We do accept last minute entries, but we do not guarantee meals or awards.We don't cash the check until after the ride, we do reserve the value of the meals ordered if they cancel after I have sent in the order (about 6 days in advance of the ride.) We do not charge anything if a horse does not pass the pre-ride VC. I am the secretary, so I don't have to pay my time for paperwork. No use keeping money when a person already has the disappointment of not being able to ride. We are also willing to swap riders, if one cannot make it. We also accept changes of horse at the last minute. I noticed one ride manager mentioning the cost of porta-potties as $55 per weekend. Ours have cost $75 per weekend for several years. We didn't hold our ride last year, so I'm interested to see what the cost will be this year. Lud has called halt to putting on our 100 mile ride after this year. I asked him to agree to this one year so we could call this our Silver Anniversary. I have agreed to his wishes. What we will do after this year is up for question. We could offer only the 75; we could offer a 50 and 70 on trails nearer to our home. We could stop managing rides all together. We've asked our adult daughters and sons-in-law whether they would like to carry on, but they have other priorities in their lives. As for us, we have tons of things to do on the ranch, just maintaining fences, splitting firewood, and doing brush control. We ride much less than before, after a lifetime of riding. I'm finding it a bit sad, but life goes on and circumstances change. We are seizing opportunities to travel, something I have longed for all my life. I have always wondered what is on the other side of the mountain (or world.) Now, with escalating costs for everything, especially fuel, I can see how difficult it would be for people to drive this far to ride Swanton Pacific. I mention all this because this will be the last Swanton Pacific 100. If you ever wanted to do this ride, this is the year. All necessary information and a printable entry blank are featured on the website, plus photos of the scenery you will see along the way. Barbara Barbara McCrary Ride Mgr., Swanton Pacific 75/100 "The Most Beautiful Trail in the World" See our Website: http://www.donerailfarm.com/Misc/SwantonPacificwebsite2008.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: <steelsidedown@xxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <rides2far@xxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 10:46 PM Subject: Re: [RC] Endurance rides and rising costs However, I do get a little grouchy on the pre-registration fees. A reasonable non-refundable deposit ($25-$35) is totally acceptable, if the horse or I can't make it, oh well, I contributed a bit to the ride. But when the pre-registration is the entire fee ($100-$150) its just not cool. I small late fee is also reasonable, if its a last minute decision to go, and I show up unannounced, I expect it, its only fair to management. But, again a $50+ late fee, no thanks, I'll happily stay home. Who loses? In the end the ride management takes in less $, and I've saved so can go to someone elses ride next weekend. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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