> carla lawson [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Is there any rule in the AERC stating that a junior can ride a stallion in
a limited distance? I looked thru the rules online but I wasn't sure if
there was one in the making.
> Carla Lawson
I don't think AERC has any rules that define what anyone can (or cannot)
ride. The operative rules here are rules 3 and L3 which both state that:
"The ride must be open to any breed or type of equine" (which includes
stallions), rules 3.3 and L3.3 which both state that: "An equine which
constitutes a clear danger to other equines and /or persons may be
disqualified at any time from competition by the ride manager or ride
veterinarian" (which means that if any rider is not in control of a horse,
including said junior on said stallion, and is thus a danger to anyone or
anything, they can be eliminated from competition), and rule 10 which states
that "All Junior riders in both full and Limited Distance rides, whether
they are AERC members or not, must be accompanied by a competent adult (21
years or older) sponsor throughout the competition. Junior and Sponsor must
ride together at all times, including entering and leaving all vet checks at
the same time; the only exception being that at the finish a Junior may
finish within the same minute or within the one minute on either side of the
sponsor's finishing minute" (which means that theoretical junior on that
theoretical stallion has an adult present at all times to help that junior
make choices).
This is really a great way to do it, because it does not penalize good
riders (junior or not) who ride well-behaved horses (regardless of gender),
but it allows management to throw out ANYONE who is not in control of their
horse, even if it is a dumb adult on a nasty gelding--but could and would
include a junior on a stallion that was not in control.
While it does not pertain to LD, it is an interesting historical footnote to
know that one of our former Junior National Champions (back in the days when
that meant highest number of points for an entire 12-month season) was Holly
Gervais on the wonderful old stallion Tezero--and a more well-behaved pair
you'd never have found anywhere. Lindsey Westergard (back in her junior
years) also rode my stallion Abu Ben Surrabu extensively the year he was
PNER mileage champion and did a beautiful job with him, and he has also been
ridden by Megan Hunter and Chris Johnson back when they were likewise
juniors. It isn't the gender of the horse that determines safety--it is his
temperament and training--and likewise it isn't necessarily the age of the
rider, but rather their common sense and capability. We've been fortunate
in that people have not abused the opportunity for juniors to ride stallions
much in our sport--the only stallions I've seen at rides that have been a
threat to human or equine safety have all been ridden by adults... :-(
Heidi
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