"The take-home message is that one size does not
fit all here"
This is a valid comment. Periodically we have
comments about the Austrialian and/or English systems that require a certain
number of miles for whatever and suggestions that we should consider this
requirement or that requirement. One of the things that I love about
America, and one of the things that we are in the most danger of losing, is that
we are free to make our own decisions. I truely beleive that there are
many equistrians in the USA that are skilled and could enter a 50 or 100 mile
ride for their first ride and do fine. We should have freedom to be
responsible for our own actions.
That said, the AERC also has an obligation to
provide advice etc. to help us ride and protect our horses.
My first ride was a 50 ctr (one day 8 hour ride
time) Sketer was ready and won a second place. Even though this particular
horse was ready to do a 50 as his first ride, I usually give my new horses a
season (8-10 rides from May to October) of 25's before their first 50. I
would be quite upset if someone tried to tell me that I had to have X number of
25's to do a 50 and Y 50's to do a 100. It is my job to figure out when my
horse is ready for his next challenge.
Ed
Ed and Wendy Hauser Sisu West 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
