Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

 Hi David--
Thank you for your response. We will probably have to agree to disagree, 
but I have a few rebuttals. You said that my reasoning that the need for 
increased recognition (above what is already available in LD, which is 
sizable) is the reason that many feel mistreated, was nonsense. Then you 
stated that you think the real reason is "not being treated as a full 
member of the community." If not feeling like a full member is in no way 
tied to points, miles, recognition, BC or any other award or form of 
public reward or recognition, where does this feeling come from?
 
 100 milers are awarded differently than two 50's. There is a point 
differential that rewards the one day 100 miler above the two 50's. Of 
course, the miles themselves are the same, as they should be.
 
 Any member of the AERC can be one of many things--a distance rider, an 
LD rider (I have done many), a rider of endurance distances, a 100 
miler, a multiday-er, a lightweight, a junior, a senior, and the 
nicknames go on and on under the umbrella of AERC.  I don't think anyone 
really cares about what casual moniker we all want to apply to 
ourselves. The confusion comes from the fact that "endurance riding" is 
a global term that casually refers to our sport, and an "endurance ride" 
is defined as any distance at or above 50 miles in a day.   Way back 
when the term was coined, there were no LD rides, proving that the 
choice of the term was not meant to be exclusionary.  It's awkward to 
say, "I'm an AERC member who is riding an LD today." It's easier to say, 
"I'm riding the LD today, and an endurance ride tomorrow." These are 
semantics that some have stretched into feigned insult as exclusionary 
and demeaning. Clearly, they are not. Using this "insult" as a 
rationale, some have  then often strategized to build a case for such 
things as adding endurance points for LD rides, and pushing to make the 
LD venue one designed for racing. The latter agenda causes grave concern 
amongst those who have been around long enough to remember what happened 
in the early days when LD did not have the restrictions it has today, as 
well as amongst our veterinary staff in their concern for the welfare of 
the horse.

  My observation over the last 25 years has been that the majority of 
people who find themselves riding in an LD at any given time (that would 
be me three weeks ago) are indeed there for the reasons I mentioned 
earlier--not wanting to ride the longer distances, physical, time and 
financial limitations, and equine limitations of maturity, conditioning, 
soundness and injury recovery. I think it is a vocal few who are wanting 
the sport to change to allow LD to become a full fledged racing 
opportunity and other benefits currently only ascribed to rides that are 
two to four times longer.
 
 You mentioned that the sport has changed, and it has in many ways. I 
also see pressure being exerted by a few to change the sport itself to 
meet their personal taste or limitations, and I object to some of those 
changes, especially as they relate to what I mention above.

  This debate has gone on for a long time, and will undoubtedly 
continue. I appreciate the opportunity to express how I see things. LD 
has been a very good thing for AERC. I don't believe making it a racing 
venue or awarding endurance points would be.   Bruce Weary

 


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