Waldo50 schreef op dinsdag 10 oktober 2006, 2:48:
> Waldo50 schreef op dinsdag 10 oktober 2006, 2:43:
>
>>>
To: Peter Bosman
From: CuChullaine O'Reilly
Subject: Validity of Santiago equestrian journey
CC: Margriet Dijkstra
Dear Mr. Bosman,
CuChullaine O'Reilly of The Long Riders' Guild here, writing to thank you for contacting us with your concerns regarding the recent equestrian journey done by Margariet Dijkstra and Jeannette van den Eng.
Allow me to reassure you that The Guild treats with great seriousness any question regarding the validity of an equestrian journey.
However, based upon the information submitted in your email, your concern seems to be in regards to the occasional use of a horse trailer during the journey from Holland to Santiago de Compostella.
While The Long Riders' Guild requires every potential Member to have ridden at least one thousand miles on a single journey, we do not require an equestrian explorer or long distance traveller to make the journey without adequate support.
Some journeys, such as the 8,000 mile solo ride from Mongolia to Hungary currently undertake by Australian Long Rider Tim Cope, are done with the use of pack horses.
Yet some journeys, such as the 3,000 mile ride from Los Angeles to New York undertaken this year by American Long Rider Howard Wooldridge, require a back up vehicle.
For example, the English Long Rider Keith Clark was recently forced to trailer his horses through one of South America's most traffic heavy cities rather than subject his horses to unnecessary suffering and danger.
The Guild recognizes that the Long Rider must adapt to the particular conditions each country and climate demand.
A ride across Siberia in winter, for example, could hardly be done without adequate support.
Whereas a ride across the gentle countryside of England would not require such a necessity.
Yet whereas The Guild is not strictly opposed to the use of a support vehicle, we do not tolerate bad behaviour in the saddle.
And it is the suspicion that Margariet and Jeannette were involved in forging their equestrian credentials which caused us to contact them immediately.
I am happy to report that Margariet has instantly addressed all our concerns and fully explained exactly where the trailer was used, why the horses were moved for safety reasons, etc.
There is therefore no reason in our opinion to further suspect these Long Riders.
In closing, we would like to thank you for taking the time to contact The Long Riders' Guild with your concerns.
As I explained to Margariet in an earlier email, there are the rare cases where someone posing as a Long Rider takes advantage of the public's trust.
In each of these cases The Long Riders' Guild instantly ejects that person from the organization.
Here is a link to a recent article which explains how such a travel villain was discovered.
http://www.thelongridersguild.com/knave1.htm Though your concerns appear to be unfounded, we nevertheless appreciate the fact that you took your duty so seriously as to inform us.
We hope that your interest in equestrian travel will continue and that you will someday make your own thousand mile ride.
Until then, best wishes.
CuChullaine O'Reilly FRGS
Warboel
