1. The *racers* will come out of the woodwork. Forget the horse, it's the
money that counts. The less educated horse people will think that their
backyard horse, or even very expensive horse, can do the race. Even with
vet controls, this could become a disaster for the horse. After all,
there are 12-20 miles between vet checks. A lot can happen in that
distance.
2. As Bob stated, there will be more professional jockies entering the
race. Everyone (who is a *real* endurance rider) knows that the rider
must be in good shape to ride a winner, and some folks will not put in
the effort. And since the jockey only gets paid a percentage of the winnings,
the jockey is in a position to push the horse too hard.
3. Buy the made horse regardless of cost, and run him till he drops for
the money.
4. Good bye to "To finish is to win". How many of us seriously think we
could win money at a regular basis? How many of us ride a ride just to
complete? I had the opportunity to buy Cash before he became famous.
Had I done so, you would not know who Cash was, because I am not the
person to go out for the win. We would have poked around in the top
ten. I ride to complete. Winning is fun, but not necessary.
5. Higher entry fees. Sure prizes are nice. I won BC at my last ride
and am more pleased because I won than I am at the horse sheet that came
with the win. Completion awards are great. I love belt buckels, but a
ribbon, bucket, or even certificut is OK. However, I do not want to pay
much higher entrance fees just to get a bigger award. I can go out and buy
my own T-shirts (I don't have to because I get them free with everything
now days) bucket, sponge or brush. I can't even imagine the cost if
cash prizes become the norm.
A few championship rides - ROC, regionals, nationals, worlds - can have
their high cost awards, or even cash. But let's keep the local rides
to small awards, nice but not expensive completion awards, and lower
cost entry fees.
-- Wendy\|/ /\ -O- /**\ /|\ /****\ /\ / \ /**\ Here there be dragons / /\ / \ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\/\/\ /\ / / \ / \ / \/\/ \/ \ /\/ \/\ /\ /\/ / / \/ \ / / \/ /\ \ / \ \ / \/ / / \/ \/ \ / \ \ / / \/ \/\ \ / \ / / \ __/__/_______/___/__\___\__________________________________________________
Wendy Milner HPDesk: wendy_milner@hp4000 Hewlett-Packard Company e-mail: wendy@fc.hp.com Mail Stop A2 Telnet: 229-2182 3404 E. Harmony Rd. AT&T: (970) 229-2182 Fort Collins, CO, 80525 FAX: (970) 229-4292