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Re: [RC] 100 Milers - MtnRondiI've been reading about the dwindling numbers of riders in the 100's and it sort of makes me wonder. I belong to AERC, NATRC, and a handful of dog clubs. This same type of discussion goes on within each of my organizations.NATRC started out in the early days with ONLY Open rides (fast 30 - 35 miles in a day). Then it added Novice (slower & fewer miles) for beginners and 4 year old horses. Then it dumbed down again to offer another class (Competitive Pleasure) for those who didn't want to ride Open but were too advanced for Novice. Why, we ask, don't people move up to the original intent of the organization... Open rides??? I have shown dogs in conformation and obedience for almost 45 years. The obedience crowd is asking: Why won't people show in the upper classes? Why do they stop at Novice and not go on? How can we encourgage people to continue? We think people want instant success... they don't want to have to work hard training or conditioning to do the higher levels of competition, so they stay in the lower classes. Sorry to ramble on, but I just thought that it was interesting that this is not strictly an endurance phenomenon. It seems to be happening in a lot of sports. Bonnie So. Calif.
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