Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

OK Folks. I expected to get flamed but lets not get personal. I am simply trying to demonstrate to the group of people in the West region with a particular viewpoint of LD rides why their approach to recording LD rides creates a division among participants in this region and between this region and other regions. Other regions do it differently. We are the only region that doesn't record times and placements for LD riders. Kim stated exactly what I was saying. You don't need an organized ride to know how fast you went or how well your horse recovers. You need placings to compare yourself to a benchmark whether it be yourself or others. As the LD segment becomes larger, more riders will want their placings recorded if they don't want that now. A group in the west is very much opposed to that because they feel it promotes racing. I pointed out early on that can be controlled via other means such as lowered criteria (a 56 pulse rather than 60). The method that has been chosen to record LDs creates ill will. If you don't think so why have LD riders posted their concerns here in RideCamp. Barbara and Merryben may be right that the rules are vague and maybe that was done on purpose. I don't know, I wasn't there. But the issue can be resolved by changing the wording of the rules from "If" and "may" to "will". Then there would be no room for argument, LD riders would have their times recorded in the same manner as everyone else and they wouldn't feel slighted. I don't see what the big deal is about that. I originally indicated that it may have to do with ego or the need to feel different on the part of those opposed. I don't know. I have yet to hear a good argument why times are not recorded other than it is a training ride and it doesn't matter. To whom doesn't it matter! You. It does seem to matter to others. Maybe it is a small group but I don't think so. There are many people who only ride LDs and don't intend to ride anything else. I get to talk, see and email an awful lot of people that are involved in this sport through my business. I can tell you a lot of the LD riders tell me that they are upset with the current situation. This email came from a rider in the PS region in response to my original post "thank you!   This is also happening in the ps region.  we are so tired of being ignored at rides, just because we choose, for whatever reason to ride the shortest distance offered and charged for." They pay the same amount of money in many cases and they simply want to be treated with the same respect that other riders are offered. I don't think the distance one rides should determine the level of respect given. I don't think you would be willing to buy lesser quality tack than a longer distance rider does and pay the same money simply because you ride a shorter distance. If you really think endurance is only 50 miles or more than why offer an LD. Let NATRC do it. If the ride managers need the funds from the LD riders to support the other distances then they and AERC need to be responsive to what the marketplace of LD riders wants.

 

Yes Kim, I do have friends that provide a lot of what a ride provides. We are blessed that we only have to travel 15-30 minutes to ride the same trails that you pay $100 to ride when you come up here for organized rides. We know the trails, we know where there is water, we sometimes have vets who ride with us and have one of the premier vet facilities right at the edge of BLM land (FT. Ord - Steinbeck Vet) where we ride. We are still trying to figure out how to move the entire Tevis trail down here so we will have everything. It would be great to have both Swanton and Tevis within 15 minutes of our homes. On any given day you can ride out on these trails and find many of the top level endurance riders in the western region riding these trails. I am personally blessed that they have been willing to mentor me and provide advice with regard to my riding and my business. Yet organized rides do provide something more in the sense that they are like a party. Unfortunately, like at some parties, some of the guests feel excluded. It's wrong to do that and we should be more inclusive rather than more exclusive. That is how we will grow our organization for many years to come.

 

Well, enough said on this subject. I am sure it will come up at convention and maybe it will be resolved there. In the meantime I've got only six days before I go to Scottsdale for 2 weeks for the Arabian show, so I am going to cut out of work early again and go ride. The weather here is stunning, 70 degrees and sunny. See you out at Ft. Ord today and Swanton tomorrow.

Richard Sacks
rsacks@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.equipedic.com

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