AERC limited distance rides are a great place to start distance riding. Unlike competitive trail riding which can have a variety of rules and governing organizations, most endurance rides in North America are sanctioned and run under AERC rules and regulations. Once you learn and understand these AERC rules, they will remain the same at all other AERC sanctioned rides.

Limited distance rides can be any mileage over 25 miles but less than 50 miles. Most limited distance rides are usually 25 or 30 mile rides. They are a great place to try a ride and in most endurance rides you will actually be given more time to complete a limited distance ride than a 25 or 30 mile competitive trail ride. In competitive, the pace and mph will be set for you, but in endurance you can set your own pace just as long as you do not exceed the maximum time allowed, which is quite liberal.

Limited distance rides are also a great place to start a young horse. You can begin your ride after the official start and keep that youngster's attention on you, not on being with the "herd." Just remember, all equines must be at least 4 years old (48 months) to enter an AERC limited distance ride.

Limited distance rides are also a good place to reintroduce an injured horse or rider back to the sport. The equine and/or rider can travel at the distance they need and these rides have various checks to determine if all is well.

That isn't to suggest that limited distance is just a place to start. Limited distance rides are the only rides that some AERC members will ever care to do, and that is fine too--all distances have their place and their supporters. This is a very individual sport and, as such, has lots of options for everyone; just pick the one that is right for you and your equine at any given event.

You can also ride with a crowd if you like, or all by yourself. Many times in other types of distance riding you are sent out in a particular order or at a preassigned time. However, in endurance rides there is usually a "shotgun" start and when announced that the "trail is open," you are free to begin down the trail. But, that doesn't mean that you have to start then either--just be sure that ride management is informed of your intentions of starting after the official start time, and remember that you are now on your "own time" and this will only be a problem if you exceed the maximum time allowed for that particular distance.

All distance riding is an individual sport and as such you can use any type of equipment that works for you and your horse. Unlike a horse show, AERC rules do not have any stipulation that requires you to use any special type of equipment and as long as everything is humane for the animal, you can use it. The same goes for the rider; whatever works for you is allowed. This isn't a fashion event, although many riders will color coordinate their riding clothes with their horseÕs tack.

As limited distance participation grows, so do the programs within AERC for LD riders. The Limited Distance Committee is working on offering year-end awards for limited distance, beginning in 2005, with all AERC limited distance rides offering a limited distance best condition award. This would mirror the BC judging that is currently being offered at AERC rides of 50 or more miles.

So if you are ready to try a distance ride, an AERC limited distance ride might be the right choice for you. Nothing can say it better than the AERC motto--"To Finish Is To Win"--successfully complete an AERC limited distance ride and you will experience the true meaning of these words. Hope to see you . . . on the trail.

National LD best condition proposal--update

The AERC Board of Directors voted and passed the proposed limited distance best condition proposal at the BOD meeting February 26, 2004. The change was approved as follows:

Current Rule L9 reads: An award may be available for the horse judged to be in the Best Condition.

Change L9 to read: An award will be available for the horse judged to be in the best condition.

This rule change would be effective at the beginning of the 2005 ride season.

A loophole in the AERC rules was found that stated the use of the AERC best condition form was optional for all ride distances. This means the AERC LD BC would be offered but each ride could be judged differently by not using one consistent form. With this loophole still in the rules, the change as was adopted would be useless in ensuring consistency across the nation.

The BOD reviewed this loophole and agreed that consistency and fairness to all riders is important. Passing the rule "as-is" would only resolve half the problem. Therefore, the BOD agreed to suspend the action taken at the February 26, 2004 meeting during the February 29, 2004 BOD meeting. The plan is to submit a new proposal that would include requiring the use of the AERC best condition form for all distances with this proposal.

We want to encourage all LD riders to ask their ride managers to offer the LD BC at their rides and use the AERC form. This is the only way LD riders have any chance of receiving the national LD BC award. We want to hear from all members on this issue and your feedback is requested. ÐLimited Distance Committee