Joyce Anderson said:
"People have become so dependent on glow stick trails that they may <>no
longer be
prepared to ride night trail in the mountains on their own.
If you come to do a MOUNTAIN 100 (not a road ride of multiple <>loops
back thru camp) come
prepared to ride the trail - on your own - in the dark. ~~
Leave the mountain tracks to those of us
who value them to the bottom of our soul and will fight like crazy
to promote and
protect them. If you want the Big Horn to have more perks - get
involved - volunteer
your time and your efforts and HELP! "
I find these sentiments very interesting, in that they are
indefensible for the overwhelming majority of AERC members. First,
unless
there is a widespread decline in everyone's night vision, I don't think
we are more dependent than we used to be on glow sticks. We simply
still like to see where
we are going in the dark. In my book, a glow stick is just a night
time version of a trail ribbon. Who wants to ride a trail in the
daytime with no ribbon? Probably the most common complaint spoken in
this sport is "Where in the hell are the ribbons?"
Secondly, I don't think mountain trails get any darker after dark
than flat land rides. Yes, anyone who rides a night ride should be
prepared--to ride, at night, on a well marked trail. Anything less puts
both rider and horse at unnecessary risk, and flies in the face of the
cornerstone principles of this sport. And it's just plain good sense,
besides. Additionally, I'm for whatever makes it easier for ride
management to put the ride on in the first place. Loops back to camp
are potentially safer for the horses (and their riders) in cases of
emergent needs--injuries, sickness, colic, etc.,. Heck, all my training
rides at home, are, coincidentally, a loop back to where I started
from. I'm used to it. Sometimes there's some mighty pretty scenery on
those loops.
As far as valuing trails to the bottom of my soul, that level of
love and commitment I tend to reserve for my family, my patients, and,
of course, Wrestlemania. Is it okay if those of us who "sorta like," or
are "moderately fond of" or "reasonably attracted to" our riding trails
tag along too?
The truth, more or less, of what happened at Big Horn this year will
be legitimately pursued by those charged to do so. I'm certain that the
folks involved in putting on this ride worked hard with the best of
intentions. Sometimes bad things happen in spite of "pockets full of
good intentions." True in all walks of life. IMO, the only completely
tragic equine death is one we don't learn something from. Or at least
try to. Dr Q, who's gettin' in his jammies and hittin' the sack.
