ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: refunds

Re: refunds

Linda S. Flemmer (bluwolf@earthlink.net)
Wed, 17 Dec 1997 17:31:15 -0800

Terry Woolley Howe wrote:
>
> C.M.Newell wrote:
>> If you're not sure you're going to go, then you shouldn't
> > pre-enter. Take your chances on being able to post-enter on short notice.
> > Don't expect ride management to take the financial risk.
>
> If too many riders just show up to take their chances, that also puts a
> burden on ride management because all of a sudden that impacts the whole
> ride -- not enough vets, not enough water, not enough food, etc.

I have to agree with Dr. Newell. Here in the East, rides are few & far
between. Part of Endurance is the "Endurance Drive" that happens before
& after the ride - things happen on the trip there that aren't the
responsibilty of the ride manager. The better rides fill, the less well
known rides don't always fill. If too few pre-enter, then the ride CAN
be cancelled for any number of reasons as long as the riders can be
notified well in advance. Most established rides know historically how
many are likely to show up. It really helps with the planning. If you
have no history, then the Sanctioning Director for the region can often
offer good help.

The biggest East Coast ride is the Old Dominion 50/100. It allows
pre-entry with a minimal administrative fee assessed from the deposit if
you cancel before attempting to vet in. It also allows unlimited walk
ins. On the other hand, it hires the BEST vets in the country, and LOTS
of them as it is similar in profile to Tevis/Western States. It can be
done, but this ride is on a much larger scale than most rides.

I appreciate pre-entering with written guidelines for refunds. If there
are no guidelines, I will call ride management to ask what the policy is
IN WRITING if I have any doubt about my entry before pre-entering.
There are some rides that I would never get into if I didn't pre-enter
(Biltmore, for example). If I plan to be a "walk in", I'll try to call
ride management the week of the ride as a courtesy.

If ride management has to take financial hits because of other folks'
misfortunes, there may be no more rides to attend! Personally, I can't
afford to put on rides that end $1500 (or more) in the hole. If
somebody has trouble on the way in, I realize that it's bad luck. Can't
be helped, etc. But you had a spot reserved! Waht happens if you
reserve a motel room on your credit card & you don't show up? You are
charged the full amount unless there is a specific refund policy.

The only 2 rides I didn't start, the ride management was very
understanding & helpful. My mare died in surgery a week before the Old
Dominion 100, and the other ride, my gelding developed fever and
cellulitis in his hind legs on a long trailer trip up the coast to a
ride. In both cases, I was offered a refund or a spare horse to ride!

Lets keep ride managers incentive to put on rides! Keep rides in the
black. Riders, be responsible for yourself. If you aren't showing up,
it isn't the manager's fault, now is it.

Linda Flemmer
Blue Wolf Ranch
Bruceton Mills, WV

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