Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] Ride shortages: maybe it's time...

I'd be careful about making such blanket statements about LD subsidizing 
longer rides. Or about them being easier/cheaper to manage, etc.
In our area, riders are just as apt to ride 25 as 50, depending on how they 
and their horses feel that day. We have husband/wife combos as well as 
friends who normally travel together who ride different distances at the 
same rides.  Historically in OCER it seems we'll have an influx of riders 
who start in 25's, with fewer riders in the 50. By the next year most of 
them move up or quit the sport, and the 50's have more entries. Then it 
starts all over again.
Hiring a vet for 1/2 day 25 will cost just as much as a whole day. They 
often spend more time explaining things to the newer riders. In our area 
most rides give out the same awards to each distance. 25 mile rides still 
have lower entry fees, though that is changing as ride manager's realize it 
costs just as much for that 25 miler as a 50.
It is my understanding the intent of the AERC rule is to keep the middle 
east style Marathon racing, or suicide type races that take place in some 
areas of this country, from getting any type of AERC sanctioning.
I also don't understand how having 25 mile only rides would solve any "ride 
shortage"? Would there be more 25 mile riders show up if they didn't have to 
ride with 50 milers?
If a ride isn't economically feasible with combined distances, it's unlikely 
to be so with one distance only.
The Turkey Trot had 22- 50 milers & 15- 25's the first day.
15- 50's & 22-25's the second. Several people who rode 50's the 1st day rode 
25 the second. I want them ALL at my rides. United we stand, divided we 
fail. And that's not typo!

Nancy Mitts





> From: "A. Perez" <walkergirl@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Reply-To: <walkergirl@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [RC]   Ride shortages: maybe it's time...
> Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 14:23:58 -0500
>
> ... to reconsider the rule that says LD rises can only take
> place at events with 'real' rides (50 -100+ miles) (I know the
> orginal topic was about multi-days, it just raised a pet peeve
> of mine). The intent of this rule was, I assume, to make sure
> LD rides at other locations did not draw down attendence at the
> longer rides, and in effect, guaarnteeing that the "Real
> Endurance" riders continue to be subsidized by the LD riders.
>   But the longer rides are more expensive to put on, have fewer
> venues available (more miles of trails needed), more work to
> manage... etc. So there are fewer held.
>   Call them clinics, don't give awards, don't points, don't
> miles, don't serve meals etc, I don't care, but give me more
> opportunities, closer to home, to do training rides!  I'll bet
> more people would 'catch the bug' if LD rides were available
> more places, more often, and overall enroillment in Endurance
> would INCREASE (and the longer rides would have fewer of the
> ignorant idiots on untrained horses that every one here loves
> to hate!).
>   I realize this doesn't address the issue of multi-day rides,
> though indirectly it might, if increasing the number of
> endurance riders would increase demand and visibility, drawing
> sponors...
>
> A
>
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Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

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