Re: Introductory rides, response, long, sorry!

["Robert Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>]

Vware:

That's the way it used to be but it ain't no more!

Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID

PS see the announcement in today's paper about the COE on the Front?? How
did you make out with TB?
-----Original Message-----
From: Virginia Ware <vware@micron.net>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Friday, December 04, 1998 7:56 PM
Subject: Fw: Introductory rides, response, long, sorry!


>Sorry, I sent this to Terre, but forgot to cc Ridecamp!
>
>>
>>>One of the major differences between endurance and the other equestrian
>>>sports is that we do not have an unsanctioned "schooling" format.  In
>other
>>>disciplines, riders can participate in unsanctioned, inexpensive "back
>>>yard" type competitions until they feel ready to move up to the
sanctioned
>>>events.  This "level" of competition does not exist in our sport--riders
>>>are involved with the National organization from the very beginning.  The
>>>alternative to paying full fees (and non-member fees) is
>non-participation.
>>> There is no introductory level.
>>>
>>>Terre
>>>
>>    Terre, in response,  here in Southern Idaho, we have historically
>>offered an unsanctioned "schooling" format in the form of 10-15 mile
>>pleasure rides, run concurrently with our sanctioned distances.  These
>>"schooling" rides are advertised as fun, safe trail rides over a measured,
>>marked course with veterinary control, and the opportunity to view
>>first-hand actual endurance riders at the longer distances.  Participants
>>are required to sign in, pay a nominal fee(in the neighborhood of ten
>>dollars), and present their equine to the vet for a cursory exam.  They
>>could start their ride within a given time window and take whatever time
>>necessary to complete.  After completion, they again presented their horse
>>to the vet and were then recognized at the regular awards ceremony with a
>>simple reading of names of those who rode the pleasure ride, a token
>>certificate or small award, with no placings of any kind.
>>    And who participated?  Moms and pops, with saddebag lunches and
>helmeted
>>kids on ponies, sometimes a herd of kids/ponies.  Young couples with their
>>first horses,  middle-aged folks anxious for a change from arena riding,
>>seasoned riders wanting some exposure for greenbroke colts.  "Real"
>>endurance riders dragging along an endurance wannabe or spouse.
>>    What did they get?  Exactly what was advertised.  The total endurance
>>experience without the intimidating factor of a big digit mileage.  They
>>were welcomed and reassured and hopefully will come to another ride, at
the
>>same distance or maybe alittle longer if the endurance bug "bit" them.
>>    What did ride management get?  We exposed them to our sport and
>injected
>>some extra dollars into the kitty to hopefully get us over the break-even
>>point.  And a couple of our rides this year would NOT have broke even
>>without the added income from our "pleasure riders".
>>    This income will be lost to us with the result of the recent AERC
vote.
>>These folks will not, nor can they afford the fees that a sanctioned
>>distance entails.  Idaho is not a wealthy state.  You only have to look at
>>rigs entering a ride camp to realize that half the adventure is just
>getting
>>to the ride!  No living quarter goosenecks and although I think there is
>one
>>motorhome, but it was bought used.  We are five year old trucks, and ten
>>year old trailers but we ride tough horses and are proud of our rides and
>>actively recruiting riders in the best way we know how.
>>    We voted!  We lost, and will now be looking at other options.
>>
>>IMHO, sincerely,
>>Virginia Ware
>>Kuna, Idaho
>>"I lurk, therefore I am!"
>>
>>
>
>