Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I'm not sure that was John's point at all. Any rider can assume all his 
own risk and is free to do so. But when that risk spills over to someone 
else - especially someone else not involved in the event then he has 
responsibility for his actions be it driving a car or driving a horse.

I believe that was what the MT protest found.

While pratically this may not be an issue in remote areas with few trail 
users that are not part of a ride or on private land, it is an issue in 
those areas where there are multiple trail users on the trail. This is 
the way I read John's post. I cannot comments of the specifics of his 
observation other than that if they are running the trails at Ft. Valley 
the way they normally run it the danger is probably minimal since you 
can see what is coming for quite a way - but that fact does not remove 
the responsibility of riders to ride in such a way as not to endanger 
others.

We endurance riders don't own the trails when we are sharing them with 
other legitimate trails users on public lands. We had an accident at a 
SE ride some years back where a 10 year old boy's horse died and the boy 
was injured when some endurance riders passed and his horse took off and 
he didn't have the strength or experience to stop the horse. The horse 
dumped the boy and ran through the woods hitting a tree and killing itself.

Guess who's insurance paid for the horse without one whimper.

When we ride on public trails that are shared with other users we have 
the added responsibility to ride in such a manner that we do not 
endanger other users. If we don't we may just find ourselves not being 
able to use those trails in the future for endurance rides.

Truman

Heidi Smith wrote:

> Riders assume risks at the race track, going over fences, and even doing
> walk-trot-canter classes in the arena--went to a horse show last month and
> one girl got shook up pretty bad when she came off her horse in the arena
> sand at a canter.
>
> Heck, life is a risk--I get in my truck every day and drive down the highway
> to work, despite cars coming 70 mph from the other direction, and
> dark-colored moose that like to hang out on the highway after dark when I'm
> late getting home.  I guess I should give that up, too, and just stay home.
> But oh, yeah--I get asthma at home if I start up the woodstove in the
> winter, so I guess that's risky, too...
>
> Lighten up, John Thunder--riders and RM's certainly do what they can (and
> need to do what they can) to minimize risk by developing the appropriate
> skills or by designing finish areas as safely as possible.  But people ride
> this sport because they love the nature of what it is--and there is some
> element of risk in the nature of everything.
>
> Heidi
>
>
>
>  



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