Re: Re: Toddlers

["Michelle Fink" <michrowe@redwrench.com>]

> Of course sensationalism will always get attention
> and will cause people to change their opinions.  That doesn't mean that
the
> sensational story represents the way things actually are.

Hey Lif -

I included my story below about a ride this summer not to be sensationalist,
but so perhaps you can better understand my perspective and why my first
thought was for managing a worst case situation.

I was recently at a ride where a horse fell down a ravine and had to be
destroyed.  Luckily the rider had the presence of mind to jump from the
horse.  We had tried to make things safe (I was trail boss), but part of the
group separated and went on the adventurous route of their own accord with
my warning that the trail they were taking was steep and advanced.
Afterward, I was told that I might have personal liability for not
conducting a safe group ride even though I was not with the group where the
accident happened, but luckily the folks that lost the horse were not out
for $$$$.  We did not have to find out if reasonable people would find me
negligent.  It's just such a bummer for everyone when a worst case scenario
comes true.  I don't think I am being sensationalist so much as a realist.
The politics and legality of managing groups is different than individual
responsibility and liability.  The loss of the aforementioned horse was a
real tragedy for our small horse-oriented club, I can't imagine how the
tragedy would have multiplied had an adult or kid been lost with the horse.
I originally *thought* it was one of the kid's horses that went over, being
there were two horses there named Dusty, and one of them always carries a 7
year old kid - it scared the bejesus out of me wondering if the kid was ok.
So my first thought was what a tragedy it would have been for Cliff, the
parents, his family, the riders, RM, and AERC had something happened to this
tyke at an AERC event.  And what a mess.

Boy, I was tired of this topic before I posted my first short post.  :-(

m