<% appTitle="Ridecamp Archives" %> Ridecamp: [RC] one more thought and i will shut up
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Current to Wed Jul 23 17:37:41 GMT 2003
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  • - SandyDSA

    [RC] one more thought and i will shut up - Sullivan


    Regarding toddlers and very small children doing endurance rides, I offer the following:
     
    Laws and common sense are the reason you don;t see this age group driving cars, flying airplanes, parachuting, etc. Many small children participate in activities that are SCALED DOWN versions of adult sports (moto-cross, go-karts, skiing etc) Would 5 year olds participate in Olympic-difficulity downhill slalom ski runs or be able to ride cross country olympic courses? 
     
    Yet, AERC is allowing pre-school kids to compete on the same courses used for National Championship competitions...many of these trails are into rugged areas with no access, and require great skill from ADULT horse/rider teams.  The fact that some of these kids may have a good time, and be better riders (they certainly are lighter!) becomes totally irrelevent.
    Karen