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Re: [RC] [Guest] Limited Distance out of control - CharlesI'll go to the other extreme. I've only crewed at rides. I never heard of this sport before last summer when I bumped into it while saddle shopping. I don't think you have it right or you are viewing things with a jaundiced eye. First, the rider who didn't have a stethoscope, is just the rider the LD is made for. It is a distance to start at. It is a distance to learn what works, what doesn't, what is a waste of time. In this instance, I hope the rider will know to have a stethoscope at the next ride. Second, I haven't seen people racing to finish an LD. (OK, I've only been at 2 rides with an LD). I notice that at Trough Creek Valley, a third of the 50's got pulled, and I heard that most of those were at the first vet check. Of the 50 or so LD riders, only 6 got pulled, and 3 of those had gone over time but were otherwise OK. It doesn't sound like LD'ers were racing to finish. I hope to have my horse ready to ride a LD by next year (end of next year). LD will be a major accomplishment for him. I don't want to worry about points or any other such system. I want to finish with a horse who will want to do it again. I will propose that there will always be, and have always been, people who will race their horse hoping to come in first or get some award or money. LD, 50 or even 100 miles does not stop them. It's part of the competitive natures some people have. It may even be part of the competitive nature some horses have. Eliminating LD's won't stop people from racing. It will mean either less people enter the sport, or more people will race their horse for a 50 mi. ride. Which will be worse for the horse? I will agree that more effort needs to be put into trail preservation, not just by the AERC, but by all horse groups everywhere. Charles ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ridecamp Guest" <ridecamp-moderator@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <guest@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 11:29 AM Subject: [RC] [Guest] Limited Distance out of control Jerry Young equineinnova@xxxxxxxxxxxx The following is a letter that I wrote to the board of directors of AERC. Now I have to tell you all that I've been involved as a rider with AERC since 1978. Have campaigned all over the United States in LD, 50's 100's and multi-day rides. I feel that I'm more than qualified to talk about this topic. We all need to get behind the LD program and AERC. Remembering that the motto of Endurance has always been "To finish is to win!" Not "Race for first place!". These are just my feelings. Jerry Young To: BOD Date: June 30, 2003 Subject: LD Program On of the reasons that Endurance Riding appealed to me is the motto that adopted; "To finish is to win" and in order to complete you had to be "Fit to continue". Two very powerful statements that were very definitive in what they were saying. There were several other things that made Endurance Rides very appealing too. These were a limited distance program that alowed a person to get acquainted to train for bigger events which were 50 and 100 milers without pressure; also the fact that people involved in the sport were friendly and genuinely interested in helping a new person get started. They helped you understand what you had to do to finish and be fit to continue. I truly believe that all the Limited Distance program was intended for has all but been lost. And this is a terrible shame. We are not perpetuating our sport. We are not catching the interest in new and young riders. We are not giving new people a good impression of what Endurance Riding is all about. And this is quite a shame. This has been going of for some time but has really been picking up speed here in the last three years. The term "Limited Distance Race" gives our sport a terrible black eye. It does not perpetuated the "To finish is to win" and the "Fit to continue" motto. I had the chance to go to a ride this past weekend and observed both 50 milers and 25 limited distance milers. The "race feelings" were heavy in the air. I saw many people with all the latest gear. I asked if I could help with a young person at the vet check (a 25 miler). The rider said they were having trouble with their heart rate monitor. When asked if they had a stethoscop to check their horse's heart rate, the answer was "What?" They didn't even know how to do the basics, jsut interested in getting in first and winning. Now I will say not all are this way. But it is the way that Limited Distance is going Nationally. It's just a race, a way to make money. I blame both AERC and the Ride Managers. They've lost the true meaning of what AERC represents. Our motto "To finish is to win" and "Fit to continue". What I propose is a revamping of the Limited Distance Program. And I don't believe that it will be that much of a shock. AERC represents our motto "To finish is to win" and "Fit to continue". First there should never be a 1st, 2nd, 3rd type of placement for Limited Distance rides only a completion. And the Limited Distance participants should be called for their completion award either by age, or by alphabetical order. Second there should be a no best condition awards for Limited Distance rides. It should be a horse excellence award. This award should follow a points system. Say a maximum of 15 points total for each event for each rider. And you could get maximum of 15 points only. Of cours you could get less. 5 points are awarded to the rider based on attitude, horsemanship, etc. 5 points for the horse for P & R and overall shape, and 5 points for overall horse and rider as a team. This is only a recommendation on scoring. NATRC does somethin similar. And yes I've done several years of NATRC too! The points per ride are tallied for the end of the year where at convention riders get their award for Horse Excellence, Best overall in the Nation. One for each weight division and of course one for juniors. Also there should be a difinitive pricing schedule set forth by AREC for Limited Distance and for Juniors. Ride managers wont like this of course. Ride managers are going overboard with their fees. This only chases potential new members away. Who wants to spend $90 (+) for a Limited Distance Ride. And who can afford $90 (+) for a junior rider. There has to be some guide lines and they should come from AERC. Finally, I know that in the South, East nad Mid West the biggest draw for ride managers is the Limited Distance "Races". If they want to perpetuate "Races" then these can not be sanctioned events by AERC. For Limited Distance was always meant to be a training event not a "RACE". If the desire is to give riders an option for AERC recognition then how about intituting an elevator type of event where the rider declares at the 25 mile point that they are optgiong for the 25 mile ride and that they are only going for completion just like the Limited Distance is supposed to be. If they choose to continue they will be treated like all other 50 milers. For those who choose this type of ride, the rider might pay a slightly higher fee for the 25 mile option, but the regular fee for the 50 mile option. For those that declare a 25 mile option only their fee might be slightly lower and they will only receive a completion, no placement, and of course they can be involved with horse excellence. This perpetuates good horsemanship and better good sportsmanship. I know there are some minor bugs to work out in this recommended program, but it puts the "Race" where it belongs and allows the new people a safe and fun environment to compete in. All is fair and I do believe that ride managers will still have a profitable well run ride. There is one thing more. AERC came about for two reasons; one for the mileage records they keep on riders and horses. However, we have forgotten the other, trail preservation. I feel that each ride should contribute a percentage of the take to the AERC trail fund or show they are supporting local trail preservation in some way. Again this should be mandatory if a ride is sanctioned by AERC. It will also help people get involved and bring in new members. Members care and don't like loosing their trails. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. 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