who pays?

["Louise D Burton" <FIREDANCEFARMS@prodigy.net>]

I promised yall I would write in after my ride as to what the $10 fee for
LD did for my ride.  This only pertains to the Okmulgee Cougar Prowl held
March 5, 1999.
The weather was perfect, and I expected a big turnout.   Cougar Prowl is
designed to break even.  Therefore I charge riders a minimal amount to
cover costs and juniors ride free.  Because of the weather and big numbers
in our regional rides last month, I added another vet.
By Friday evening  I was in a panic.  The numbers of fifty milers were the
same as always..rain or shine..there are always between 30 and 40 fifty
milers, and I knew five were coming late.  But where were my limited
distance people?  I usually have 40 LD riders and I had 19!  I was fixing
to loose several hundred dollars!!!  Luckily I was able to cancell the
third vet,  and loose a little less than $100 in the end.  
So, for me, what I feared about the higher entry fees for LD became a
reality.  My LD numbers were half of usual, and the weather was great. 
WHY???  I had several phone calls from people who wanted to try endurance,
but as soon as I mentioned the fee, they hung up!  Several people said
"they could just as easily do a 25 at home".

On the other hand, the LD riders who were there (23) were the best group I
have ever had, and we did get three new members, mainly thanks to the
Sundowner discount.   But, I cannot operate a ride at a loss.  What to
do???

The options I can see are: increase rider fees for the fifty milers, and/
or charge juniors.  I am adament about juniors riding free or at least at a
substantial discount(plus $20 bucks or so isn't going to matter too much)
so I will probably choose increasing rider fees.  Now who, I ask, is 
paying more? Why the 50 milers who are already AERC members!!!  The non
members aren't paying more, they are STAYING HOME!  So it is you and I, the
50 mile AERC members, who will end up paying more.  Something isn't making
sense here....

Please, ride managers in other regions, let us know if this is happened to
you.  The $10 fee doesn't seem to be effecting the Texas rides at all.  Any
suggestions?

Louise Burton
Firedance Farms Arabians
Oklahoma
http://pages.prodigy.com/arabians


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