Re: RC: international end

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/20/00 4:15:55 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
nessranch@brainerd.net writes:

<< in regards to international involvment, i think that is great. i do
 however,feel that a lot of local little guys are not getting the same
 representation. all the stuff you read, is about the biggys, or the
 campainers, who have $$$$,s and many horses. not to mention time. i bet
 most of us are working janes and jos who are happy to make 5 to 10 rides
 a yr. AND our dedication to the sport is just as strong and just as
 important. i'm certainly open to comments, i think dicussion is needed >>

Anne, you get no argument from me that the rank and file rider is the 
backbone of this sport.  It really ticks me off when folks belittle the 
accomplishments of those riders and try to make out that those folks are 
"nobodies" for not striving to win World competitions.  But you know what?  
The folks who flap their gums about that are not endurance riders.  I've yet 
to hear the folks who ACTUALLY go out and represent us at an FEI level have 
anything but praise and support for the backbone of AERC--the regular rides 
and the regular riders.  

Involvement on an international level has brought innovations, research, etc. 
that have benefited ALL of us, right on down to the newbie who can partake of 
the knowledge and be more prepared to go out and do that first 5+ hour 
25-miler.  It has also brought public attention to our sport and has helped 
our growth immensely.

As for the "biggies" getting attention--that is nothing new.  The top 
competitors at ANY sport and at ANY level tend to do that.  Before FEI, there 
was a lot more attention paid to National Champions, etc. than to the rank 
and file rider--was that unfair?  Nobody said life was fair.  And as proud as 
I may be of my accomplishments, I don't expect a full-page spread just 
because I met my year's goals, or whatever.  When you push the limits, be it 
at FEI events, AERC championships, season or career mileage barriers, or 
whatever, you make the news.  That's life.  One nice thing about endurance is 
the sense of self-satisfaction in completing with a healthy horse, whether 
you get "attention" or not.  Little kids go through a phase in life where 
"getting attention" is all-important--and some folks never outgrow it.  Those 
who don't aren't fond of completing a 100-miler at three in the morning with 
no one around to applaud but a sleepy timer and a ride vet--but the 
self-confidence to be able to do that with no applause in the dark and to 
KNOW that you have accomplished something is, to me, one of the wonderful 
things about this sport.  If it was applause I wanted, I'd go back to the 
show ring.

While it is offensive to me when folks belittle "regular" riders and are 
elitist about FEI, it is equally offensive to try to "blame" FEI for all the 
ills of our sport and equally assinine to try to disassociate ourselves from 
it.  Our sport has many facets, which is one of the great things about 
it--and there is no need to dull another facet to make one's own facet shine.

Heidi