Re: Re: RC:LD & kids competing etc.

["Becky" <bechack@sierratel.com>]

And since there are really so few kids at rides (what, maybe 5 on a 80 rider
plus 50) in PS or W   that I really like it when ALL  of the juniors get a
bucket of goodies ( horse bucket with hoof pick, vet wrap, shampoo, USEFUL
HORSEY STUFF)

It was at the old Bear Valley Springs ride, and RM Sherri Brisco did just
that....I can't tell you how much my daughter BEAMED after getting her
completion AND that bucket of stuff!!!

Becky Hackworth

mom of Heather, Katie and Colleen....all endurance riders
and Shawn rider wanna be
and Miranda (DVE Driver for hire this year!)
-----Original Message-----
From: Trailrite@aol.com <Trailrite@aol.com>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Monday, November 01, 1999 9:10 AM
Subject: RC: Re: RC:LD & kids competing etc.


>    I'm not going to say much about LD.  The only thing I will say about
it,
>is that it is a good stepping stone to get a feel and education on and
about
>endurance riding.  Some people really don't think that they can ride 50
>miles.  Most of what I hear is, "Maybe my horse will make it but I don't
>think I could."  So LD sounds less challenging and after a few of these,
most
>of the people that told me 50 is to far, try the 50 later.
>    With kids competing is another story.  I do a lot of 1st time adults &
>kids escorting on their first rides.  I also sponsor a lot of kids.  I do
>make them listen, to the vet at checks and I'll even ask them later, "What
>are your scores and what do you think it means."  They do almost all of
their
>own cleaning, tacking, (unless they are real short), etc.  Anyway, what I
>saying is, we treat it as an education experience all the way, from loading
>to go, to returning to back to the ranch.  My clients work hard to get to
>that day and after care can be up to 2 days or even a week.
>    The main problem I have is non recognition of first time riders and
>Juniors.  In Aug. we had 9 riders, 4 were new riders, 3 juniors.  All of
them
>completed except 1 jr. rider.  After the ride, we got ready to go to the
>award banquet.  It was posted in our ride packet as starting at 6:00pm.
When
>we got across to the area (all happy and such!) we found that since most
>riders wanted to go home early, that they had the banquet at 4:00pm.  I
can't
>tell you how let down we were!   No Awards!
>    Later, this last race, I had a 9 yr. jr. rider.  First timer.  She did
>the 50 on her sisters horse.  She was a real trooper, never complained,
>always took care of her horse.  Three weeks before she did conditioning
(not
>that her horse needed much, but we didn't let her know that).  The weekend
>before we rode 26 miles in very hot weather and she did great.  She and her
>horse completed the 50 with great scores and when we went to the banquet
>well, if you want to call it that, there was one, and they read the names
off
>so fast that you had the feeling that we were all taking up to much Ride
>Management time.  It breaks my heart that there is so little hoopla to
award
>times.  No, you don't need to do it for the award but for new riders and
>junior riders, it does mean something.  A little recognition, while may be
>Mom & Dad can smile and clap for their efforts would be nice.
>    I feel not enough is done for the 1st time completers and mostly the
jr.
>riders.  If we want encourage children to stay in this sport, maybe we
should
>make it a little more rewarding.
>    I for one, am sick of cheap non rewarding banquets!
>Tammy
>
>
>
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Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=