Re: prompting

[Susan Evans Garlinghouse <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

> I personally think it both detracts from the idea of the rider interacting one
> on one with the horse and can give those with access to the technology an
> unfair advantage, as on most rides in my area there is NOT crew accessibility
> to a lot of the trail.  I find it equally offensive when crew members go to
> great lengths to meet riders on course when there is ample water provided,
> etc., etc. 

I agree with Heidi's opinion, and also with Ramey's very good idea
regarding being out of the competition once you break the seal on the
cell phone (although I still don't trust cell phones to work reliably in
a canyon when you might really need it---I think carrying a police
whistle would work about as well and be more trustworthy.)

Years ago when I used to show Saddlebreds, there started to be a trend
for an amateur rider in the ring to be wearing a small radio headset
under their hat so that the trainer could talk and coach every last move
throughout an "amateur" class---I even knew of one trainer who set up a
momentary distraction of a dogfight in the stands when the canter was
called for because they knew their client's horse made bad transitions
and they wanted the judge's attention elsewhere while the rider flailed
her way into getting the lead right.  A charming and sportsmanlike
display if ever there was one.  I don't know whether it was ever
outlawed, I was so disgusted by that time I had stopped showing, but it
seems kind of in the same spirit as being prompted by a crew via radio. 
I would greatly prefer endurance to remain a sport where strategy and
horsemanship remains the winning edge over technology.

Just .02 of course.

Susan