<< From: Debbie Zanot
Email: mrwallet@key-net.net
For a long time now Gene and I have talked about how the fifty mile horses
are minimized as inferior competitors more or less overshadowed by 100 mile
horses. Here is the point. AERC members are NOT all 100 mile riders. Does
anyone have any stats on the percentage of members who only ride 50's? For
various reasons, whether it be time,money,or not the right horse, people
choose to do 50's only.My question is why isn't thee a 50 mile championship
ride for horses who have never do 100's? Do you think there would be a
interest in this type of an event? We feek if there were such Regional
Championship 50 mile rides it would encourage more new members in to the
sport. What do you think?
>>
Absolutely! And I have a news break here - not ALL AERC riders are even 50
milers! If you check the archives, you will find a myriad of posts containing
a myriad of reasons why many folk only ride LD or include CTR in their
activities. Some of the predominant reasons have been:
1. Can't afford another horse capable of that (perhaps lil' ol' Blue is 26
and is fine over 25 but not 50).
2. Some folk have families and/or jobs that precluse the necessary time neded
to condition for 50s.
3. Personal injury (Where is Larry H. Parker when you need him:)!) is
physically limiting to people, AND in some cases their mounts.
4. Personal pleasure in the lower distance rides -(they like to get into the
shower - or the hot springs first!
In any case, no one has the right to tell a rider of any distance that theirs
is not a legitimate endeavour. IOHO.
san