Hi Bob,
Well I guess my irateness comes from (what I perceive as) taking the fun
out of endurance. I agree if their is a noticable competitive advantage then
that is unfair to the other party and I wouldn't agree with it. But lately I
think we are splitting hairs. There was no competitive advantage to not
listing a starter. But I don't want to go there anymore.
RE:
Jim, the essence of endurance is competition, not a pleasure ride in the
park. when you start to bend the rules in competition you do irreparable harm to
the sport and degrade the experience for the competitors. Is that so hard to
understand in light of what has been discussed?
I
have noticed that 80% of the riders at the rides I attend don't believe the
essence of endurance is competition. They believe the essence of endurance is a
partnership with your horse, a beautiful day out in the country, a
social event with friends. And not allowing someone to enjoy that,
because of rules and not any significant advantage that I can see, doesn't serve
the membership or the sport.
Or I forgot one other note for all the
rule police. When a policeman in a car with radar passes you, and you were
speeding by 5 mph over the limit, you know he knows you broke the law. If he
doesn't come write you a ticket, I expect all of you to chase him down and get
his badge number. Then I expect you to turn him in to his boss to be
reprimanded. Because we all know that if the paid (or volunteer) officials of a
sport or state don't enforce the rules, the world will fall apart, the
sport should be disbanded and so forth.
Time to go ride, but I'll take
my rule book along.
JIm
