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[RC] Weight matters but I ain't strippin! - Susan, Princess of PinkI agree with you Bob...to a certain point. I ain't taken my clothes off!!! Besides, my horse carried them too. And, yes, he carried the mud on my shoes...and I try to kick as much of that off as I can.
If a rider dunks the saddle pad in water, that's wrong. If a rider steps off the horse, untacks then steps on the scale, that's right.
What's the big deal in all of this? A FW can't ride as a HW but a HW can ride as a FW. So what? Why would I want to do that? As has already been pointed out, the population in each weight division is about equal. HW's are as competitive as any other division. I'm a true HW with my current saddle. If I ride in a lighter saddle BECAUSE IT FITS MY HORSE, then I carry something THE ENTIRE RIDE to make up the difference. No one polices me because my character, integrity and reputation is well known and respected. I wouldn't WANT to do anything to damage my reputation. From what I know of AERC's membership, this statement is the rule and not the exception. We endurance riders are a pretty decent lot.
If a rider wants to weight as heavy in his/her weight division in order to gain a few points for BC placing, fine. That person is STILL in his/her weight division and the extra points are fine because the horse carried the weight the entire time. Weight does matter.
I don't think we have a big problem here...so let's don't make one. Ride managers can handle the few who break this or any other rule.
bobmorris@xxxxxxxx wrote: It confounds me when we have a simple weight rule Susan [Young], The Princess of Pink Semper Obliquo (Always aside) Glenndale Grace Farm, Ft Gibson, Oklahoma U.S.A. "Ride on! Rough-shod if need be, smooth-shod if that will do, but ride on! Ride on over all obstacles, and win the race!" - Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
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