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Ron Olko (captron1@ix.netcom.com)
Tue, 10 Dec 1996 22:02:02 -0800
I don't think that any money rides are going to change the basic nature =
of the standard local ride. We have the ROC, WEG and some of the other =
big rides, but the local rides still survive. Local rides can't afford =
to offer cash prizes, so they won't. The locals will attend , fees will =
stay the same ( rising only from that darned inflation) and T-shirts =
will be the awards. I won't be attending the cash prize races because I =
know that, within myself, no matter how much I love my horse (which I =
do), I would be tempted to override for the money. I don't want to place =
myself in that tempting situation. But in the future, when I have the =
time, horse and money to train to a level where I know my horse can =
compete with and against the best with no ill effects, I'd like to try =
to make a business of endurance riding.Think how wonderful it would be =
if you could actually just ride instead of heading to the office and not =
give up your kid's college fund.I think that there should be that =
option. I think though that there needs to be better, stricter rules to =
be enforced at these rides so that the wannabe richer , but can't bother =
to condition people don't hurt their animals.
Kris