"AERC rules and regulations provide minimum conditions and
directives for managing and competing in AERC sanctioned endurance
rides. Additional measures may be taken by any ride to provide greater
safety for equine and rider. However, except in the event of emergency,
these additional measures must be explained to the competitors and made
available to them in written form at a pre-ride meeting."
In the above excerpted portion of the AERC Rules and
Regulations, it seems some latitude is given RM's managers to provide or not
provide this or that under the umbrella of "greater safety for equine and
rider".
If a ride manager does not want to offer an
LD BC, it seems that the above portion of the rules and regulations might, in
fact, give them that latitude should they feel that LD horses should not be
raced. Same holds true for placings and awards based on same, if a
particular Ride Manager feels the LD's they put on should be "preparatory" in
nature for Endurance Rides...and those views should be in writing before the
ride.
Those decisions seem congruent with the
rules, albeit a bit ambiguous when viewed from the perspective of participants
in LD rides.
Seems to me that your AERC Director should
be the one promoting your views, and, if in the majority, perhaps your views
would become amendments to the rules and regulations. Short of
that...
I have my own views on the matter,
but if strictly using AERC guidelines, I could see the fertile ground for
growing confusion by the above.
There are those who know, because
they were "there" when the rules were written...I wasn't. Perhaps
they'd chime in here.
