RE: [RC] Practical Side of LD Issue - Steph Teeter
As a ride manager, I love the LD riders. The
ones that race, the new faces, the old faces. I like seeing how exciting it is
for any distance rider to win the BC award. It is difficult to incorporate LD
into the multiday format because of the need for extra vetchecks and having
riders return to camp at 25 miles, while the 50's are still out on the long loop
- but I make it happen because it's good business (helps pay the bills) and
because I really like this group of competitors, trail riders, whatever. I
rarely see LD horses in trouble, but have seen a few 50 and 100 miler horses
with problems. We recognize placements and we award LD BC. It's difficult
for me to understand the problems and objections to recognizing timed finishes
and BC awards that some of you have.
Maybe there is another class of entries in
some regions - 'yahoo idiot riders' - that we simply don't have in the NW. And
part of our 'success' in the NW is likely due to the strength of our regional
organizaton -PNER- where most of the educatin' goes on. There's a strong network
of help and support, and new riders are generally welcomed and introduced to the
sport by more experienced riders. Folks learn a lot by watching their
peers - as well as being watched by their peers. Since the SW also has a strong
regional organization (SERA) and they also seem to have few problems (e.g. with
LD riders), I'm guessing that the regional organizations play a very important
role in this sport.
