need ride mgt info

[KarenBrat1@aol.com]

To all the Ride Managers... my Back Country Horsemen's group in northern Idaho
is planning an endurance ride next year at Schweitzer Mountain ski resort.  We
have a lot of general info (many thanks to those who responded before! :-) but
we could really use more specific now.  One person on the committee is really
pushing to have a 100 distance... we were considering just a 25/30 and 50,
perhaps also a 75 tops.  For a first time ride... would you recommend trying
to put on a 100?  A factor is that the only weekend we could (Sept. 11) get is
sandwiched between three other established/popular relatively nearby rides
that offer 100s (Sept. 4 Lost Wheelbarrow Mine, Sept. 18 Posse and Ironhorse).
I'm pushing to nail down Schweitzer NOW for a July or August date in 2000 to
avoid that next time!

Regarding ride volunteers, how many timers/assistants, P & R
people/assistants, and vet assistants, do we need per "x" amount of riders?

Being a first time ride we will really need to require pre-entries.  How far
in advance should the entry deadline be?

I really need a detailed explanation of the different types of vet check
holds... step by step!  :-D   I've read the AERC manuals and still don't quite
understand :-)

With so many ride cancellations, there are NO rides within reasonable distance
of me until September for the group to gain more experience... I will probably
go to Oregon for at least one in August, but I'm trying to gather as much info
as possible now.  Thanks for the help!  Please reply privately... anyone who
wants the info I've already gathered, I'd be happy to send.

Karen Bratcher
Hayden ID