Re: NO dogs at Limestone Challange

["superpat" <superpat@gateway.net>]

Just by way of explanation for those who may not have read the original
request to leave Fido and Friends at home. the property where the ride camp
will be located (same as in years past) was purchased this year by non horse
owning people. In fact, they know nothing of horses. They were kind enough
to allow use of the property but were very skittish about what type of
people would be using it, whether the property would be damaged or worse,
burned down, (I kid you not), and whether visiting dogs would attack and
mame their own dogs. Through skillful and tactful negotiations, the ride
managers were able to convince the new owners that all would be well......
But the owners of the property wanted to limit use to only 75 riders and
ride management had to promise that there would be no dogs. So in a way,
this is a test year. If all goes well, perhaps we will be able to continue
to use this site for ride camp. So, please, don't get too anxious or
resentful about the rider limit or no dog request. I love this ride and want
to see it continue. If you will be riding it for the first time, I
guarantee, you will love it too.
Pat Super

----- Original Message -----
From: <BMcCrary27@aol.com>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 9:12 AM
Subject: RC: NO dogs at Limestone Challange


> << I'll be interested to see how many dogs you end up with in camp.  I
> attended
>  > a ride a few weeks ago where the entry very clearly stated "absolutely
no
>  > dogs...leave your dogs at home!"  Even though I was driving 6 hours
alone
> to
>  > the ride, I left my dogs at home.  I really enjoy having them with me
when
>  > I'm travelling alone and for some odd reason they do make me feel safer
and
>  > help to keep me awake on that long drive home after riding 50 miles
(the
> Jack
>  > Russel sure can tell a good joke :).  When I arrived at camp there were
> five
>  > or six dogs romping around and to make it worse, they weren't even on
>  > leashes.   The unfairness of it just made me mad.  I'd love to see ride
>  > managers (as though you don't have enough to do, eh?) enforce the "no
dog"
>  > thing when it is stated on the entry -- deny entry to people who can't
even
>  > follow that simple of an instruction.  This is a pet peeve of mine --
> people
>  > who think the rules just aren't intended for them. >>
>
> This is one of the ongoing challenges to ride managers.  There are very
good
> reasons why some ride managers do not want dogs or cannot have them in a
ride
> camp:  Park rules or personal requirements are among those.  And other
riders
> are not always as enthralled with YOUR dogs are you are, just as they are
not
> always enthralled with YOUR children.  I must express gratitude to our
riders
> and guests at Castle Rock just this last weekend.  The dog situation was
> pretty much quiet.  In the past we've had all sorts of trouble caused by
dogs
> and their owners' attitudes.  We began banning dogs, but there are always
> those who will not listen, do not follow the camp policies, and bring dogs
> who run loose, bark all night, etc.  This year we offered a compromise:
dogs
> were allowed and a special area was designated for camping with dogs, an
area
> that was a bit farther away from the main central section of camp where
the
> food was served and the vetting was conducted.  We reuired dogs to be
> confined in a trailer or motor home during the event, dogs were not
allowed
> in the main camp or at the start-finish line.  They were allowed to be
walked
> on leash, outside of the main camp area.  I know dogs were brought, but I
> will have to say that I personally did not notice a problem with any of
them,
> and several riders thanked me for designating a special area for camping
with
> them.  A nearby resident had a newborn foal and very young kids (goats),
so
> there was another very good reason for keeping dogs under control.  If
guests
> continue to comply with our requirements, things will continue smoothly.
I
> can live with the dogs as long as they are not in the main camp, at the
> start-finish line, or running loose.  It is EXTREMELY difficult to send
> someone home if they brought dogs, because it would take a police force
with
> search warrants to deal with this.  And frankly, a ride manager doesn't
need
> this extra stress; there are better ways to expend energy than going on
dog
> patrol.  All I can say for myself is that if everyone handles this as well
as
> they did this year, it's going to be OK.  If things get out of hand again,
I
> would seriously consider cancelling the ride and spend my time riding
other
> people's rides or just planting flowers and going for pleasure rides.  The
> mericifully few who defy rules and policies are not only making it tough
for
> ride managers but are making OTHER riders angry.  Anyone who reads this
and
> is guilty might just think a little bit about the price of their defiance
or
> determination to have their own way.  WE have found a compromise, but
state
> agencies will not offer one, so it's your choice folks....you either leave
> your dogs at home, or you don't attend the ride. (I love the expression,
> "Just which part of NO don't you understand?"
>
> Barbara McCrary
> RM, Castle Rock 50 & Swanton Pacific 100
>
>
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