RE: worlds youngest rider

["Nancy Cox" <ncox@bendnet.com>]

Beth,
You shouldn't judge kids you don't know.  My son rode his first 100 at 8
years old.  I tried to get him not to, but he convinced me he wanted to do
it.  His is now 29 and still talks about that ride, it gave him confidence
to get though many things in his life and he still thanks me for letting him
finish.  I almost made him stop at the last vet check, in my opionion he had
had enough - he knew more about himself than I knew about him.
And from the story it appears that this child's father started at 5 and his
is still riding, don't think he is being forced to ride for his daddy.
I agree that it needs to be the child's idea.  When is is their idea, let
them ride!!!
Congrats to the little "Lewis" boy.
Nancy

Warning I'm in a real pissy mood after a weekend of taking care of dying
kids in the hospital.  Three year old child on an endurance ride? Sounds
like child abuse to me.
Would be nice if more parents would take the time to ride with their
children.