Ozark Winter I

Nancy Mitts (MS-MITTS@VM.MSSC.EDU)
Tue, 10 Dec 96 13:33:56 CST

To anyone planning on attending Ozark Winter I: The current over the low
water bridge was high & swift last weekend. I will not have any more info
regarding water levels before the ride. Use the directions on the ride flyer
for coming in on K highway please. Do not try to come in on W. Phone
417-476-2505 if you need a flyer.(Ride is in SW Missouri.)
One more story about $$$. While trimming trail for my ride we came across a
group of "Cowboy" types (appologies to REAL cowboys) settin on their ponies
drinkin beer.We stopped to chat (public relations, maybe they won't pull my
ribbons.)"Those rides are like races?" They asked? "What can we win?" A T
shirt,we said."How far do we ride?" 50 miles.(Didn't mention the 25.) The
look on their faces said they wouldn't ride 50 miles for a T shirt. If I had
said $5,000 I have no doubt I would have lots of new riders. And yes, some of
them would do just fine. The vets would hopefully pull the rest before they got
in serious trouble.True, I could have qualifications necessary to enter, but
howmany potential newcomers would be scared away from trying if they had to
run the same trails as the hotshoes?
There are other ways to sponsor a ride without cash prizes. The money could be
given directly to the non-profit organization putting on the event. This
would allow putting on a first class event with NO financial risk.
I hate to see AERC splintering into many groups & factions.(International,
Amatuer, Professional, etc.)There just aren't a whole lot of us to go
around for one thing. The learning curve for beginners will be much longer
if they aren't in the same rides as more experienced people.Yet I have heard
comments that who have done hundreds don't "belong" in limited distance(even
on a new horse).What if you are considered a "professional" on one horse then
start a new one? What if your "professional" horse is injured or old and you
decide to back off & ride slow for a while? This is a huge pandora's box, one
that's been peeked into in the past & now flug wide open.Rational OPEN
discussion MUST prevail over emotional fingerpointing.
Sorry this is so long but I must leave the listserve till next semester!
Nancy Mitts.