Ridecamp: [RC] What are the facts on min age issue?

  I have been following this debate with great interest. As
another on this list has stated, I have been torn between
having a min. age and not. I feel in 98% of the cases the
parents have their child's best interests at heart and we
all agree no one wants more rules. However, even well
meaning parents can unknowingly hurt their children. How
many times have we heard a mom or dad say "if I had known X
I wouldn't have let my child do Y"? I would be interested
in hearing from both child psychologists and
developmentalists and ask if allowing a child under 8 to
compete in an all day ride (ie 100 miles) is in the best
interest of the child physically and mentally.
Professionals that are not connected with the sport and
have no children competing ,don't have an agenda and should
be listened to. Can prolonged riding cause long term damage
to their joints; hip, knee and ankle as several RC'ers have
suggested? Think of asking a weanling to follow its mother
on a 100 mile ride and what it can do to it's growth plates
in the knees. Sometimes what seems ok in the short term
turns up later in life. Two year old race horses come to
mind here. We all agree this is not in the best interest of
the very young horse. Are we comparing apples and oranges
by substituting the word horse for child? Are these
children strapped on in any way? We all know how very young
children can doze off at the drop of a hat when tired? How
safe is this?
  I would like the board to take a good hard look at this
and consider all the non-emotional facts. Check with child
development experts that have nothing to do with endurance.
  Until such time I would gladly put my name on any
petition for an amendment to temporarily implement a min
age until we get all the facts in and can vote with our
heads and not our hearts. 

Regards,
Penny

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