I am posting for a good friend and ride manager of the Whiskeytown
Chaser Ride, Bonnie Sterling. Renie Burnett
Hi, Renie. I can't get this sent. I'm
still trying to sign up, but so far it's not working. If you could
possibly forward this email to RideCamp or wherever for me, I would be
grateful.
Thank you, Randy Eiland. It is so very nice to hear from someone who
actually understands the importance of this issue. As an RM, an LD and a
50 miler competitor in the West Region, I have written to AERC a few times about
the LD segment of AERC receiving equal recognition. I have also voiced my
concerns to numerous endurance vets and other riders. I started off
in this sport doing 25 milers and quickly moved up to 50
milers. A few years ago I retired my horse back to LD's because of
her age and a stifle problem which does not flare up if we stick to LD's.
So I have competed in both segments of endurance and have personally experienced
the differences in the way I have been treated. To travel to a ride, to
many times pay the same entry fee as the "endurance" riders and then to be
lectured at the ride meeting about how the LD ride is a "training" ride is
extremely demeaning and can quickly take the "fun" out of the sport. My
19-year-old "endurance" horse Rosie consistently placed in the top 10
and received a few BC's as a 50 miler. She also does the same in LD's,
where there is a BC given. As a rider, yes, I do this sport for fun but
also for the competition and, yes, even for the recognition I may get for
my horse who puts her heart and soul into every ride. Best Condition was
always the award I coveted as a 50 mile rider, and that has not changed as an LD
rider.
We all know there are numerous reasons for competing in LD's ranging from
horses/riders aging up to rehabbing a horse/rider or some riders working full
time and not having sufficient time to condition their horses for longer
distances. Moreover, the majority of these reasons are geared towards
protecting our equine partners.
As I have read through many of the RideCamp messages concerning this entire
LD BC issue, I was actually amazed at the semantics used. I had no
idea my horse was merely a horse and not an equine in the language of the rules,
although I'm not exactly sure what the difference is. When I started
this sport of "endurance" riding, that's what I thought I was doing
whether I was riding 25, 30 or 50 miles. That's how it was
referred to, not as an "LD" or "endurance" ride. I have been very
enthusiastic and vocal about this sport when I meet other trail riders and am
always attempting to recruit new members because of the love I have for the
sport.
Although AERC might not be hearing a lot of complaints concerning this
issue, I have heard many, even to the point of riders not attending or
returning to certain rides because of the "training" philosophy or
inequality in treatment. Although I was not able to participate
in any Oregon rides this year, I definitely favor their rides and the PNER rides
because of their fair and equal treatment of all distances.
I noticed the comment that "all politics are local" . . . "start at the
local level" when referring to this LD BC issue. When I joined AERC,
from reading the Endurance News and seeing the regions listed which covered the
entire U.S. including Canada and the name itself, American Endurance Ride
Conference, I assumed this was a national organization. When I read the
rule book, I do not see rules which are specific to any particular region but to
all regions. Since this is a national organization, I do think the
problem needs to be corrected by them nationally even though this whole
problem of LD BC's and the attendant problems stem from the fact
that the West Region decided not to conform to the policies
of AERC. As Randy Eiland stated, "when the requirements of
sanctioning and membership is coupled with regional and national awards, the
organization effectively welcomed and incorporated LD as an equal and equally
important part of AERC with the full rights of all dues paying active members of
the organization."
In these economic times, I know as a ride manager how important LD riders
are to the economic success of any ride. I hope AERC does initiate the
proposed rule changes concerning LD BC's. I also believe, however, that
until all competition distances -- 25, 30, 50, 75, 100 -- fall under the
umbrella of "endurance riding," problems will continue.
