Re: Kids Ride Free!!!!

["Karen Lininger" <khavera@hotmail.com>]

No mean responses......it is not worth it.  As for the cost of caring 
for an Endurance Horse over a Show Horse.......well, perhaps you did 
your show horse upkeep different than we have done our's over the years; 
but I really can't see the difference in eith time or money; both add up 
rapidly.  It is for that reason, that I am saying that all helps to keep 
the cost down for Jr. riders.......especially those who do not have the 
help and/or support of their parents (and there are those out there who 
do not, for whatever reason).  $10 to you may not be much; but to some 
junior or to some parent who is trying to pay for more than one, it just 
may.  I guess we are all free to form our own opinion......that's why we 
live in the Country that we do.

Karen
Bald Hills area, Wa.

From: Dbeverly4@aol.com
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 22:22:41 EST
To: khavera@hotmail.com
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: Re: Kids Ride Free!!!!

Having been involved with 4-H on a minor scale (volunteer judged 
schooling-
type events) I am heartily in favor of the basics that 4-H teaches.  It 
is a
wonderful horse care program.  I would hope that AERC could 'afford' to
sponsor junior riders (maybe 16 and under ??) on a freebie basis, it 
would be
a nice touch.  Unfortunately, judging by the hoo-hah over a $10 LD fee, 
I
don't see that happening in the near future!  I must be missing 
something, and
I certainly don't want to prolong the $10 LD discussion, but if $10 is 
such a
big deal, maybe these people can't afford to ride!  Horses are not an
inexpensive venture ( as we all know too well).  Especially when you 
start
competing them and putting them to the stresses of competition.  They 
deserve
the best of care available (costs way more than $10 per ride, I'm sure).  
If
you can't provide that for your horse, maybe you shouldn't be out there.  
I'm
not referring to the value of your rig (mine is an old suburban and a
reasonably good Logan horse trailer--once again, horse gets better
accommodations!)  However, the basic care of an endurance horse is 
beyond even
that of a well cared for show horse (yes, I've had both).  Endurance 
horses by
definition do more than most equine atheletes.  If you can afford to 
care for
an endurance horse properly, 10 bucks per ride isn't much of an issue.  
Don't
worry, I'm ducking already, please no mean responses --  Sylvia



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