For the 2003 competition year the FEI has granted the United States a passport waiver for FEI rides in the U.S. Passports will not be required, however the following items still must be completed:

Influenza Vaccination Requirement:
All FEI horses must have documentation of an initial series of two influenza vaccinations given not less that 21 days and not more than 92 days apart, followed by documented boosters given at least within every 12 months following the 2nd shot of the initial series, and more frequently if specified by the manufacturer. THE INITIAL SERIES MUST BE GIVEN BY INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION. Intranasal vaccines are not acceptable for the initial series, but may be used for the boosters. Influenza vaccinations may not be administered within 7 days of an FEI competition or within 7 days of entry onto FEI competition grounds. The vaccination history must be signed and stamped by a licensed veterinarian certifying that the horse's vaccination status is in accordance with the specifications outlined above. If there is a lapse in documentation, for example, a late booster or no record of the initial series, the horse must be re-administered the initial series and any subsequent boosters in order to be in compliance.

Horse Identification Requirement:
All horses competing in an FEI event must have some form of identification. Often a coggins report has been used, but please be sure the veterinarian completes the horse description in great detail. A horse identification form similar to the one used for passports may be obtained at no charge from USA Equestrian by contacting the Endurance Liaison. This form outlines all the details of the horse that should be noted for accurate identification.

Horse Recording:
The horse must also be recorded with the National Federation, USA Equestrian, in order to compete in an FEI ride.

If you have any questions please contact the Endurance Liaison for USA Equestrian at (859) 258-2472.

June 12 : UPDATE

The pieces are quickly falling together for the Pan American Championship. Here's a brief update to answer some of your PAC questions.

Schedule: It's in the hands of FEI, awaiting final approval. USA Equestrian will send out invitations to all endurance countries (and all who have requested one) as soon as the schedule is definite.

Early arrivals: You are welcome at the ride site for up to two weeks (National Forest rules); however, if you would like a few more creature comforts (i.e. electricity and a shower) please email Zoe Woods, jelly@gorge.net . She has a list of lodges and locations of people in town who have opened their homes and/or fields to riders. Food:
Food concessionaire on premises as of Monday, September 8th. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner options offered.
Salmon and prime rib banquet on Thursday night, September 11th, complimentary to riders, and key officials, $25 for other guests. BBQ dinner on Sunday afternoon, September 14th.
Water: Horse water will be available, in abundance, on Monday, September 8th; however, there will be water up there prior to that, it's just that it might not be as conveniently located. Showers and portapotties will be on the grounds as of Monday, September 8th. There will be a fee for the showers.

Program: We'd like to invite all zones to profile one rider/horse (200 words and photo if possible) for us to include in the publication. We’ll be contacting the zones directly; however, if you'd like to save us a little work, feel free to contact us: Stephanie Irving at sirving@gorge.net or PO Box 200, Trout Lake, WA 98650. Rider profile deadline is July 15th. We would also like to encourage all zones/countries to purchase a half- or full-page ad ($150, $250) to showcase their team, and to help support the PAC. Ad deadline will be July 31st.

Sponsorship: You're in luck! There's still time to sponsor the 2003 PAC. If interested please contact Stephanie at sirving@gorge.net. A current list of our sponsors will be up on our website soon. Thanks in advance to our growing list of individual and corporate sponsors. A complete list will be up on the web shortly. Thanks in advance to Hood River Chamber of Commerce, Les Schwab, Enterprise Rent-A- Car, Endurance.net, Mountain Valley Enterprises, Professional’s Choice, Joint Juice. There are numerous others who are donating awards. That list will be in the program and on the web in a few weeks.

Raffle horse: Al Marah and Sue and Dennis Summers have donated AM Micados Race, a 3-year-old registered Arabian gelding (trained by Dory Jackson). Raffle tickets for this incredible horse are for sale through our website www.endurance.net/2003PAC or through the Summers at wildhrse@theofficenet.com.

Vendors: You're in luck, again. We still have space in our trade show. If you’d like show off your stuff to thousands of horse-enthusiasts, contact our trade show organizer Griggs Irving at griggsi@attbi.com. Current list of confirmed vendors include: EquiPedic, Inc, Animal Tacker, Hought Endurance Tack, Mountain Valley Enterprises.

Trail: The trail has been slightly re-arranged from last year to better accommodate 100 riders on the first loop. (For those who rode last year we're combining the 1st and 2nd loops and running them backwards.) So here's what the loops look like at this moment:
Loop 1: 20 miles VC in camp
Loop 2: 20 miles VC out (Pipeline)
Loop 3: 21 miles VC out (King)
Loop 4: 15 miles VC out (King)
Loop 5: 11 miles VC in camp
Loop 6: 13 miles VC in camp

Volunteers: If you'd like to volunteer, now's the time to put your name in our hat. Please contact Betty Transtrom, btranstrom@gorge.net, if you're interested in helping out.

Money: The nearest cash machine is White Salmon, Washington (25 miles south of the ride site). We are trying to get a cash machine on site through one of our concessionaires; however, this has not been confirmed yet. Due to the remoteness of the location, some of the vendors (food and other) may not be set up to use a credit card. So, until further notice, we're encouraging you come prepared with cash and/or travelers checks.

Ride on! See you in September.

Organizing Committee
2003 PAC

CERTIFICATE OF CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS
All horses and iders wishing to compete in the 2003 FEI Pan American Endurance Championships must meet the criteria for obtaining an FEI "Certificate of Capability." (Please note: an actual certificate is not issued.) In order to earn a Certificate of Capability, both the horse and rider (not necessarily as a combination) must have completed at least ONE of the following within 24 months of the closing date for the nominated entries of the event:

REQUIREMENTS FOR JUNIORS
All juniors wishing to nominate for the 2003 FEI Pan American Endurance Championships must meet the following additional requirements:

If you have any questions please contact Torri Nahorniak at USA Equestrian at (859) 225-2027 or tnahorniak@equestrian.org

January 2003
AERC International Column

So you might want to nominate for the 2003 Pan American Championship? By: Lori Stewart, AERC International Secretary

Who should I talk to first?
Friends who have competed at a Pan American Championship or a World Championship can talk you into nominating. Friends can share war stories and relate how “off the wall fun” it is to be part of a team in this sport. But, please do not rely on them for accurate information about the FEI Bothersome Stuff required. Reason? It changes from year to year.
Who can help me with all the paperwork?
Start with your AERC International Committee zone representatives. Who they are is determined for the most part by what time zone you live in. Highway 50 and the Sacramento River divides the West into Pacific North and Pacific South. Nevada is also part of Pacific South. On the inside cover of you AERC Endurance News is a listing of the AERC International Committee members by zone. International zones are not the same as AERC regions.
Our USA Equestrian liaison, Torri Nahorniak TNahorniak@equestrian.org, Phone: (859) 225 - 2027, can help you with most if not all the paperwork : horse recording, passports, FEI certificate of capability, etc. Put her email address in your computer contacts now and/or keep her phone number handy. Torri provides prompt and friendly assistance.
What do I have to do to qualify to nominate?
The performance requirements below must be met by close of nominations for your zone:

Rider:
• Be at least 18 years old on the date of the championship (Junior riders - 14 and older by January 1, 2003) who have been selected by their zone may be granted authorization to compete by their National Federation (NF), USA Equestrian for the USA)
• Have completed a minimum of 500 verifiable lifetime miles at FEI, USA Equestrian, or AERC rides (each ride of 50 miles or more)
• Have completed a minimum of two 100-mile one-day rides, under FEI, AERC, or USA Equestrian rules
• Reside in the zone for which he / she is nominating

  Horse:

• Be at least 7 years old (84 months) at the time of the event
  Have completed a minimum of 500 verifiable lifetime miles at FEI, USA Equestrian, or AERC rides (each ride of 50 miles or more)
• Have completed a minimum of two 100-mile one-day rides, under FEI, AERC, or USA Equestrian rules

  HORSE AND RIDER COMBINATION

• Have completed a minimum of 200 verifiable lifetime miles (as a combination) at FEI, USA Equestrian, or AERC rides
• Have completed a minimum of one 100-mile one-day ride, under FEI, AERC, or USA Equestrian rules
How do I nominate?
Write or email one of your zone reps and ask them to have the zone’s selection chair send you a nomination form as soon as one is available. Most of the zones have appointed a zone selection chair by now, but start by contacting one of your zone reps (see inside cover of Endurance News).
What vaccinations does my horse need?
All horses for which an FEI passport, National passport, or certified health papers have been issued must have a vaccination section endorsed by a veterinarian, who is not the owner of the animal, stating that it has received two intramuscular injections for primary vaccination against equine influenza, given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart. In addition, a booster injection must be recorded as having been given within each succeeding 12 months, subsequent to the second intramuscular injection of the primary vaccination. A nasal vaccination is permissible for the boosters only. None of these vaccinations must have been given within the preceding 7 days including the day of the competition or of entry into the competition stables.
The above are the minimum requirements for influenza vaccination. Both the primary series and first and subsequent booster injections should be given according to the manufacturer’s instructions, which fall within the stipulation of the FEI ruling. In many cases, booster injections are recommended by the manufacturers at intervals more frequent than 12 months.
What organizations do I have to join?
RIDER
• Be a current member in good standing of AERC
• Be a current member in good standing of AERC International
• Be a current Senior or Junior Member in good standing of USA Equestrian
• Be a current member in good standing of USET

  What organizations does my horse have to join?
  HORSE

• Be entered in the AERC mileage program and have an AERC number
• Be recorded with its National Federation (USA Equestrian for U.S.-owned horses)

What is this FEI Certificate of Capability I've heard about?
All horses and riders wishing to compete in the 2003 FEI Pan American Endurance Championship must meet the criteria for obtaining an FEI "Certificate of Capability."
In order to earn a Certificate of Capability, both horse and rider must meet specific performance minimums set by the FEI. What these are for 2003 is being decided as of our December 1st editorial deadline. Please contact one of your zone reps or Torri at the USA Equestrian TNahorniak@equestrian.org , Phone: (859) 225 - 2027) as this issue will have been decided by now. Note: Criteria should be published on or about January 20, 2003.
What kind of special paperwork do I need to present at the Pan American Championship (PAC)?
Horses competing in the PAC will be required to have either a current FEI passport or a National USA Equestrian Passport or certified health papers meeting FEI Veterinary Regulation criteria and a completed Horse Identification Form properly identifying the horse. The championship will be run under FEI Veterinary Regulations.
What's with selection? Do I have to be a "racer" and do a 100 miler really fast to get selected?
NO! Even if your zone ends up with 30 nominated riders, history has shown that selection is a game of attrition not competition. Don't let anybody convince you otherwise.
Do I have to do an FEI ride this year?
Maybe. We don't know yet what the final word will be from the FEI. The United States has applied for a waiver of the most recent FEI requirements. Your zone or the PAC Organizing Committee may require that you complete an FEI ride anyway. Regardless, do one for your own education. It will help your confidence.
How much is all this going to cost me?
Every zone over the years has made great sport out of fund raising while building team spirit at the same time. How much all this will cost you personally depends in part on how successful your zone is at raising money. At a minimum most zones raise enough money or get sponsors to help with entry fees and to pay for rider and crew polo shirts. Definitely plan on paying for transportation, on site food, lodging for your extra crew, and thank you gifts for those who become instrumental in helping you to achieve this goal.
At this time, the USET is also negotiating funding for US zone squads.
Is it worth it?
YES! By setting this goal of riding on a PAC squad and working for it, you will learn more in this one year than you would normally learn in five years.

Helpful Internet Resources:

• AERC International
• Endurance Net/International
• USA Equestrian
• United States Equestrian Team
• FEI Homepage

  IntNewsGroup: Email international news service - send a request to get on the list to rkld.stewart@rcn.com