Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Please Reply to: Andrew Gerhard a_gerhard7@xxxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Subject: Congratulations Roxanne Greene
Re: Minors in Tevis
From: Andrew Gerhard

I want to congratulate Roxanne Greene and all of those who stepped over the 
line in expressing their opinions and lowered themselves to the level of 
personally attacking Courtney for entering a plea of help across the message 
board. Your attitudes are those of real winners we can all aspire to; or not! 
While most people disagree with allowing Courtney to ride Tevis as an 
un-sponsored junior, I personally would like to see her able to enjoy the ride 
as the ride as it was meant to be enjoyed; as a personal triumph. 
Unfortunately, Roxanne Greene has taken on the role of a dictator not a leader. 
She dictates that Courtney should quietly and cheerfully belly-up to the Board 
so that they are not ?burdened? by her request. Perhaps it is because Roxanne 
is in charge of the juniors and she enjoys that power so much that the tone of 
her response became so pushy and authoritative. I?d prefer to believe however 
that Roxanne simply wants what is best for the ride and those involved. That is 
why she should have stopped her response before stating that Courtney?s request 
is ?telling evidence of the level of her maturity.? Many who responded have 
made it clear that empathy, compassion and flexibility are of no concern to 
many of these person?s in power.
       Although I felt it was unfortunate that the Board of Governors turned 
down the request, I understand their position on this matter. I expressed to 
Courtney that if she felt passionate about doing the ride in the capacity of an 
adult, she would have to remain vigilant to the cause and involve others for 
further support. Following this advice; it is clear that Courtney?s 
inexperience in appealing for help will remain a stigma more than her lack of 
maturity?as some would believe. My suggestion to the rest of you is to keep 
things in perspective, not to construe Courtney?s desires as some cocky kid 
trying to break the rules.
       As for myself, I am 26y.o. business student at CSUS graduating this 
semester. My family has been involved with horses for over 50 years. I am 
Courtney?s neighbor and friend. Early this year, she purchased from me the 
horse that I finished Tevis, the VC 100, and won the one of the Smokey Killen 
rides on. I have sponsored Courtney on one ride and rode with her as an 
un-sponsored rider on the recent Gold Country 50. I know her abilities as a 
rider and find her to be mature, competent, dedicated, and capable of doing 
Tevis. She has met the qualifications set forth by the Tevis committee save the 
fact that they discriminate on the basis of age rather than ability.
       To those of you who have stated that, ?rules are rules,? please keep in 
mind that rules do get changed. They are changed to accommodate people all the 
time. I believe that our request is not simply a matter of discretion but wanes 
on the principles underlying the issue. There are a lot of people doing this 
ride who need sponsors, most are ?adults.? Courtney is not unreasonable in 
requesting to go un-sponsored and should be applauded for taking on a daunting 
task.
       Thank you all for addressing the subject, but please don?t cross the 
line and turn this into a forum for personal attacks. That is a sure sign of 
immaturity.

Sincerely,
Andrew Gerhard
a_gerhard7@xxxxxxxxxxx


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