Re: Ridecamp Rules - State of the List

[Cheryl Newbanks <horsetrails@inficad.com>]

Steph,

I didn't know whether or not it would be appropriate to reply to your post
publicly so I am posting this private to you first. The HUGE RELIEF  that
you posted this email compelled me to write, but I don't want to start a
non related thread either.  I've been on this list approx 3 years now,
about the time it started up I believe, and I have noticed a huge drop in
the quality of the posts due to non-related subject matter.  I have
actually posted publicly about this subject a few times too, only to be
flamed in private later:}  The thing that worries me is when I see a post
from a newbie asking a relevant question like what entails a good endurance
horse and it goes totally un-noticed because the list is caught up in a 100
thread post about horse songs or something equally non related.

This list is THE reason I was able to go to my first ride an feel totally
confident that I knew what I was doing.  Everything I learned about
endurance I learned from the members of this list!  Here is where I choose
to post my endurance related success' and question my endurance related
failures so that I may never make them again! Here is where I get to read
about other peoples ride stories and find out what they feel they did right
and how to remedy their mistakes.  I highly value our professional members
and feel priviledged to have a place like this that we can go where I can
ask questions, be they big or small, and feel confident that the answers I
receive are coming from professionals such as Heidi Smith, D.V.M., Tom
Ivers and Susan Evans-Garlinghouse.  I found my equipment based on the
information from list members and I purchased it at great prices thanks to
that information also!  I've evaluated whether or not my shoer was worth a
dang for a distance horse and determined whether or not I should have my
horse adjusted by a chiropractor due to a distance related injury.  Heck I
even found and purchased my horse AFTER I spoke to the list about
conformation that may be injurious to a distance horse!  

But lately I don't post much, delete most of the ridecamp posts and usually
if I have a question I go to one of my ridecamp buddies/mentors privately
to ask it.  I figure it will just get lost in the clutter of other stuff
that isn't related if I post to the list anyway.  I welcome a change back
to the old way, the way this list was set up!  With my conditioning
schedule and my business I don't have a lot of time to scroll through the
irrelevant fluff this list entails lately.

So as you can see Stephanie, you've got a great list going here and I
truely appreciate the efforts you and your staff make to keep it that way.
I will leave it up to you whether or not to post this email publicly or
just keep it between me and you!  Either or is fine with me:}

Respectfully,
   
                                 Cheryl Newbanks 
                ~~ ^ ^       Just In Time Ranch
~~~\   _  ~~/ /\ /       Buckeye, AZ
       ( )__     ) ' '        horsetrails@inficad.com
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