Sanctioning an AERC ride is realtively simple, especially if it "would follow
most protocol" , and the paperwork is minimal compared to rides sanctioned
by other bodies that I have had the opportunity to put on. A sanctioned ride
gives the participants an expected standard - no guarantee of a great ride, but
at least a safe ride. This is not to say that an unsanctioned ride
is unsafe, but the riders really don't know what to expect!
In addition, AERC offers ADVERTISING!!, they can help with the
insurance issue, and you will attract riders who are interested in
accumulating mileage/points for themselves or for the horses.
Myself, I only attend sanctioned rides for these very reasons. I
have been on unsanctioned rides where 300 riders walked for 6 hrs,
others where they followed the AERC "rules" but threw in horsemanship
obstacles (not what we expected - if we wanted a NATRC ride, there
was one not too far away that weekend), and one "Long Distance Race"
where thay asked a group to "slow down" so that management could get
to the finish line and meet them!!!
Sorry, but I know that this doesn't address the insurance issue. We
use Markel for our club, and it covers up to 2 of our events yearly
under the basic premium.
Linda Flemmer
ABF Challenger ("Rocket") & Eternal Point ("Major")
Blue Wolf Ranch Chesapeake, Virginia, USA
"In case of emergency - Fur side up, steel side down!"