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Re: [RC] [AERCMembersForum] Safety Issue- Ride manager alert - Barbara McCraryAnother typical marking for a ride finish is a white line across the trail/road. This applies more to a 50-miler than a 100, I suspect, but such a white line cost me a first place once when my horse saw it and spooked to one side. This allowed the second place rider to finish first. I laughed at that.....served me right for riding a spooky horse, but I'm sure there are many others. I had one horse last year that spooked at all the trucks, trailers and awnings at the finish of a multi-day base-camp ride. It made no difference, since Lud and I were in the middle of the pack and riding together, but a spooky horse can make a big difference in finish order. The blinding light thing is something I should be aware of on our 100-mile ride. The finish line timer sits in an elevated "box" with a portable fluorescent lantern, and I've never heard anyone remark about it. Possibly the light is too faint and cool to cause a problem.Barbara Barbara McCrary, ride mgr. Swanton Pacific 75/100 "The Most Beautiful Trail in the World" Website: http://members.cruzio.com/~bigcreekranch/ See our website for information, photos, and a printable ride entry ----- Original Message ----- From: <rides2far@xxxxxxxx> To: <AERCMembersForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: <goldencmk@xxxxxxx>; <AERCMembersForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 3:46 AM Subject: Re: [RC] [AERCMembersForum] Safety Issue- Ride manager alert When I was a very rookie rider and even rookier manager I put a lantern on each side of the jeep trail width dirt road the Tellico 100 finished on. I was called away from the finish line by a false claim that the glow sticks were gone and had gone out in my truck to fix them. Jon Warren, a very experienced AERC vet walked out to the finish line, saw the lanterns and said they were too close, so he moved them a distance out into the woods on each side. Three horses came in together...one of which (Allison Herlong) had led the other two the whole way. They raced in towards the lanterns thinking they designated the sides of the trail. The light blinded them and first two riders literally ran into the woods and the third came right up the middle and the person at the finish line designated him the winner. I felt sick about it. I still think Allison Herlong and Star deserved that win. At that time I had no idea how blinding lights could be to riders who were coming out of the dark. Angie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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