Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

Re: [RC] 20 MT and Little Big Man - Karen Sullivan


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Long" <jlong@xxxxxxxx>
There is no age at which we are completely safe on rides.  I'm not some
starry-eyed idealist demanding total safety -- life is risk, and to live
life
well requires greater risks than just surviving.  My concern is exposing
children to unnecessary risk at a VERY EARLY age.  I believe it is our
responsibility as the adults running the show to set some standards.

I'm in agreement with Joe that a minimum age is NOT unreasonable....Because
sure enough, once someone ponies a 3 year old on a 25 mile ride (it's in the
AERC records) , some bozo will pony a 2 year old on a ride....I also
ask...how many YOUNG kids actively participate in the same venue at the same
time with adults in other sports?

Given the risks of horseback riding in general, the hazards of the trail and
other riders and green horses, again, a minimum age is totally
reasonable......

Toddlers are top-heavy with large heads compared to their bodies, bad
balance, soft bones, etc.

I hardly see how being required to wait for some minimum age is going to
ruin some kids life. You proponents of no age requirement keep talking about
spoiled kids who play video games all day, but you also keep talking about
young kids who will be "so devastated" if they can't ride.....well, that
sounds spoiled to me.  By all means, bring the kids to the ride; bring their
pony or horse and let them do a warm up ride with you, or ride around camp
supervised; have them help out and demonstrate some understanding and
responsibilty before being thrown into a sport that also has very hard-core
adult riders.  A very young child on a horse may be on the same trail as the
front runners on a 50  on their second loop.....Bring along another parent,
older sibling, or babysitter while you are at the ride.

And yes, I brought up two kids on horses.  Very disappointed with AERC in
this matter.
Karen


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


Replies
Re: [RC] 20 MT and Little Big Man, Joe Long
Re: [RC] 20 MT and Little Big Man, Joe Long