I'm pretty much a newbie, but I agree with you,
25's historically seem to be and have been, training rides for the new
horse or new rider , etc... if riders were awarded BC awards on 25's
, then it seems like AERC is encouraging them to go
faster ( in order to get a BC award for coming in top ten).
Personally, I think whomever suggested this is just trying to boost
their number of LD riders, i.e., revenues, by doing this. What other
explanation is possible? Personally, as someone who has a new,
young horse getting ready to do a 25, I would definitely NOT want to participate
in a 25 mile ride that had BC awards, because I think the pace of the ride would
be much faster. Historically, hasn't the main purpose of a doing a
25, been to get the young or new horse (or rider) used to the ride
situation without the ride frenzy one encounters on the start of a 50 (or to get
a new horse in condition)? Obviously, someone who is interested in more than
that, can do CTR's.
