Juniors: Rule 10

10. All Junior riders in both full and Limited Distance rides, whether they are AERC members or not, must be accompanied by a competent adult (18 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.

10.1 A Junior is a rider who was under the age of 16 as the first day of the ride season in which the ride is held.

10.1.1 All Juniors, sponsored or un-sponsored, must wear approved safety helmets (Approval by AHSA, PCA, ANSIZ90.4, or Snell).

10.2 Junior riders may participate in AERC competition only with the written consent of a parent or guardian. This consent shall imply:

10.2a. Acceptance of all AERC rules, particularly the ability of a Junior to substitute a sponsor during a ride as allowed by AERC rules and regulations; and,

10.2b. Prior consent to any emergency medical treatment or aid.

10.3 An AERC member 14 years or older who has completed 500 miles or more in the AERC rider mileage program may ride un-sponsored, but will compete in the senior division.

10.3.1 Such un-sponsored young rider must have on file in the AERC office a letter by parent or guardian which consents to and requests un-sponsored status.

10.3.2 The AERC office will then provide a letter for this un-sponsored young rider verifying 500 miles in AERC rider mileage program, which letter must be presented to ride management at check-in or earlier.

10.3.3 Management may choose not to honor the “un-sponsored young rider” concept and require all persons under 16 years of age to have sponsors.

10.4 The sponsor must be a competent adult (18 years or older) and must be duly entered as a competitor in the event and sponsorship must be documented on the Junior entry form complete with sponsor signature, at the time sponsorship begins.

10.4.1 Junior and/or sponsor normally may suspend their sponsorship agreement only at regular stated checks and then only with the knowledge and consent of ride management, and management’s documentation of the change when it occurs.

10.4.1.1 Sponsorships may change between checks only in the event that either competitor or either competitor’s mount is unable to continue safely to a checkpoint.

10.4.1.2 In the event of an emergency and in order to remain in competition, the Junior who is in last place and whose pre-registered sponsor is pulled, and there are no other qualified sponsors to follow, the Junior may be sponsored by an un-entered qualified rider through the completion of the ride, with ride management and ride veterinarian approval. He would receive last place junior points. This emergency sponsor will receive no credit for mileage or points. The Junior may also be sponsored by an adult on foot from the last veterinary check with the approval of ride management.

10.5 Infraction of the sponsorship shall result in either the sponsor and/or the Junior being disqualified.

10.6 AERC points must be submitted and recorded per the above regulations independent of ride management’s local ride rules governing Junior and Senior riders.

Safety Considerations Come First for Junior Riders

By Shannon Loomis, DVM

My goal in riding with juniors is to make it as safe as I can without making them feel afraid to be on the horse. I do not spend thousands of dollars on fancy equipment, but I do spend where it is needed for safety.

Helmet. For instance, I ordered a helmet for Morgan last spring but after looking at photos from a couple rides, I realized that it was too big and listed to one side. Instead of adding padding to make do, my husband and I decided the safest thing was to take her to a large trade show and try on helmets until we found one that fit perfectly. The way she is growing, it won’t take her long until she is in the larger helmet anyway!

Safety vest, boots, half chaps. Both Morgan and her little brother, Christopher, ride in safety vests. They have Ariat Terrain boots (hard to find in kid’s sizes but I lucked out and found them at a clearance sale — I bought this year’s size and the next year’s as well!) and lightweight half chaps.

Saddle. Morgan used to ride in a cheap Western saddle that we tweaked and adjusted for endurance. She pretty much outgrew it last year, so Christopher is riding in it now. Now she has an Australian stock saddle that was fitted for her and Star. My only problem is that it is too heavy for her to untack herself, though she can carry it to the tack room once it is off.

Stirrups. Both saddles have peacock safety stirrups. I carry an extra set of rubber bands in my pack, as every once in a while one decides to “ping!” off to who-knows-where.

Water storage. We attach small Camelbaks to their saddles cantles. Water bottles are difficult for young juniors to manage while on a moving horse (and I am the one who has to get off and pick them up) and the backpacks can get very heavy. But youngsters can get dehydrated easily, so I feel better knowing the water is easily accessible without weighing them down.

Horse. Finally, and to me the most important, Morgan is on the most experienced horse possible — Star is in his 21st year of distance riding. If he hasn’t seen it, chances are, it isn’t out there. And even though he is very very willing and listens to his rider, he will occasionally put his foot down and refuse to go through something. When he does that, we know that the trail isn’t safe and we need to find another way.

Star always has one eye on the trail and is very careful about where he puts his feet. Once at a competitive ride, Quest and I were leading the way around a guard rail at the side of a road crossing. At the base of the last post was a large hole that the ride manager was kind enough to mark extensively with orange spray paint. Quest and I walked around it. Morgan was singing and watching the road instead of the ground. The ride manager, who was watching the scene, said just before the hole Star paused, tilted his head so he could look at the ground and he very carefully rounded the hole and continued across the road behind his buddy.

I also try to make the competitions as fun as possible. We sing and talk. Morgan is usually in the lead and enjoys the trail, making up games and stories as she goes. Since she is still so young, I am in charge of her ride card and map, and keep track of time. That way we avoid the panic and problems that can ensue when small children are left in charge of water-soluble pieces of paper! She cools down and vets in her own horse.

While she can be stubborn and head-strong at times on the trail, Morgan is truly a joy to ride with. She doesn’t argue about pace, though she does occasionally chime in with requests. She doesn’t complain about long hours in the saddle in the rain or hot sun, though I have had to occasionally donate my rain jacket to the cause. She has enough miles under her belt to know what to expect on a ride and is very tolerant of my idiot horse, Quest, even when it means she gets foisted off on another sponsor (thank you, Mary and Kim). Morgan truly is the best trail buddy ever.

Ensuring Success as a Junior Sponsor

By Randy Eiland

Is your junior ready to ride the distance? Does your junior have the right attitude to finish the distance? And does your junior have the appropriate horse to ride?

These are equally important parts when sponsoring a junior rider. Age and attitude are almost synonymous. How do we know when our junior is ready to ride the distance? Is there an age when a junior is suddenly ready to become an endurance rider? Is there a height and weight factor we should be aware of, much like we see at carnival rides? What is an attitude?

There are no across-the-board answers to the above questions. Junior riders know when they were ready to ride the distance — many have helped at rides or crewed for their “soon to be sponsor” and are thoroughly familiar with the basics of endurance competition. Some are “horse crazy” with a natural desire to ride all day long. However, regardless of experience or background, each child knows when they are ready to move from being a crew to being a rider.

I don’t believe in the 6-, 8-, or 10-year-old factor. I have seen children as young as 5 be very successful at riding the distance, and I have seen children as old as 12 having a miserable time. If the parent/sponsor listens to their child, they will know when that child is ready to ride an LD or endurance distance. If you push the junior too hard, I can almost guarantee you will be in store for a miserable time for all the hours you are in the saddle.

Sharing a long distance ride with the child who wants to ride all day long can be extremely rewarding — there are so many lifetime experiences you can share and remember. Conversely, sharing a long distance ride with a child who is whining, crying, complaining, and sometimes screaming will introduce you to more mental pain and suffering than you ever imagined possible on the back of your favorite horse. Judge the child, not the age. Let the child make the decision for you as to when he or she is ready.

Of course, no child will be ready to go the distance unless they are mounted on the appropriate equine. In fact, as a ride manager, the most consistent mistake I have seen related to juniors is the parent/sponsor over-mounting the child.

There is a truism in riding with a group, and it matters not if the group is two people or 10, you can only go as fast as the slowest animal. For the junior rider, slow is good, especially in the junior’s early riding years. Slow doesn’t necessarily translate to “old horse” or last place finish, but it does mean an equine that has a brain, has trail experience, has confidence but likes to follow, and can be controlled by the junior. It really helps if the animal has a nice personality and bonds with the junior. I have seen many juniors on slow horses that finish top 10; slow is more of an attitude than miles per hour speed.

The mistake that parents/sponsors sometimes make is deciding their junior has outgrown the slow animal. Often that decision is made without input from the most important person, the junior. If you listen to your junior rider, you will know when they have outgrown their horse. Just because the junior is riding confidently, is finishing well, and is having fun, is no reason to “move them up” to a faster, more competitive horse.

In fact, that is the biggest mistake you can make. Remember, the idea is to have fun, especially for the junior. Fun doesn’t mean top 10 or first to finish — and it especially doesn’t mean the parent/sponsor can finally ride faster! Fun means the junior enjoys what they are doing, has a connection and bond with their mount, learns and enjoys the accomplishment of finishing on a sound and fit animal they love.

The interesting thing I have observed over the years is the “slow” junior horse that becomes faster and more competitive as the junior gains experience and becomes a better horseman. I have seen numerous slow junior horses that became consistent top 10 finishers as their junior rider became more experienced.

On the other side, I have seen many junior riders who quit riding when their parent/sponsor moved them to a “better horse” before the junior wanted, or was ready, for that move. Just like most of us, junior riders bond with and love their horses — don’t alter that relationship until the junior lets you know they are ready for the change.

There is a kind of fine art to being a successful sponsor. It can be the most glorious quality time you will have with your child. It can also be the most miserable experience imaginable if you place your own objectives before those of your junior rider.

Initially you will have to learn to ride differently, be more observant, probably take care of your own horse, your junior’s horse, yourself, and remind your junior to eat and drink. Even with all that responsibility, I think every successful sponsor, and successful junior, will tell you it is more than worth the effort.

Time to hit the trails.

AERC members from senior year through age 21 are invited to apply for the Anne Ayala Scholarship. Applicants must have a minimum of 500 AERC miles and an unweighted GPA of at least 3.0. Other requirements and application instructions:

2025 Scholarship Application

Applications must be received by the AERC office by February 3, 2025.