Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

As a ride manager (Central Region) I do my best to provide as safe a finish 
line as possible. I try to take take the trail over the finish line on an 
earlier loop so potential racers can look it over. Early enough in the ride 
so no entrant should be there at the time the 50's are finishing. The 
ENTRANTS who choose to race do so at their on risk.
My ride takes place on a state conservation area and a private trail riding 
establishment. I mark the finish area from both ends so that the pleasure 
riders have warning to stay off the finish lane. They have other options to 
ride in and out of camp to the trails. Not every ride has the option to keep 
this much distance clear around the finish. If a ride is in a location where 
management can't keep a finish line clear then riders need to decide if the 
right to race is worth not having a ride at all.
The other riders on the trails have not assumed the risk that some idiot 
feels that because they paid an entry fee they have the god given right to 
mow down everything in their path.  I know that pleasure riders also 
sometimes race and act irresponsibly, their behavior is not my 
responsibility. When entrants in an organized event excuse their own 
behavior because they are in a race, it becomes the organizers 
responsibility.
I announce at the pre-ride meeting that our ride is sharing multi-use trails 
and everyone has an equal right to be there. When approaching a group they 
are to slow down, preferably to a walk, give people time to yield the trail. 
If I get credible reports about riders who endanger other riders or are rude 
and abusive I will disqualify them from the ride. Period. The first 
endurance rider who runs over somebody who complains to the Conservation 
Department will end Endurance Riding on State Conservation land in Missouri, 
for everybody. Racing is incompatible with the management plan for the 
areas.
Riders MUST demonstate they have the abiliy to evaluate unsafe situations 
and act accordingly, or we don't have to worry about horse deaths at rides, 
there won't be any rides to go to.
Nancy Mitts

_________________________________________________________________
Surf and talk on the phone at the same time with broadband Internet access. 
Get high-speed for as low as $29.95/month (depending on the local service 
providers in your area).  https://broadband.msn.com


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=