Ridecamp: [RC] slowing down riders...

Susan Garlinghouse suendavid@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ive been reading all the various comments about using anklebreaker trail to slow down overzealous riders, not allowing entries the following year, adding more checks, and so on, and it seems to me that the only way that abusive, overambitious riders are going to be consistently and effectively controlled is to leave it in the hands of the ride vet and by god make sure they're enforcing the concept of Fit to Continue.  Anyone pushing their horse too hard, you're outta here.  That doesn't mean that nothing needs to be done within AERC to solve the problem.  I just think that the majority of effort needs to go into producing consistent and qualified ride vetting that absolutely slam-dunks the overridden horse.  If you take away the reward for overriding---no completion, no placing, no nothing---you take away the incentive.

I know, easier said than done.  I'll be starting to vet rides (presumably) in about a year.  Speaking only for myself, I'm not smart enough to be able to read minds and predict which riders will do what at what distance and at what age and which are qualified to race or just ride and which riders should be carrying their horse down the trail wrapped in cotton.  I guess the best I can do is wait for them at the other end, and if your horse ain't up to snuff, you're gone (and I can't *wait* for the first rider that tries to intimidate me about it, <chortle>).

I know consistent vetting is an issue, and IMO, needs to be more aggressively addressed by AERC.  I know most vets are really trying to get riders their completions and maybe letting borderline horses slide that shouldn't.  I like getting completions, too, but only if I truly deserve it.  I know of other vets that are pretty easily buffaloed by aggressive riders that 'thumping is normal for this horse' or whatever, and THAT needs to be addressed.

Anyway, it just seems to me that instead of coming up with more rules that still won't slow down the abusive riders and will just tangle up the considerate riders, we just need to enforce the rules we already have---like Fit to Continue, a pretty simple concept.

JMO.

Susan G




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