A reply to FEI's Michael Stone

[DebiG54@aol.com]

 In a message dated 08/28/2000 10:19:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
guest@endurance.net writes:
 
 << Endurance is now the fastest growing Equestrian Sport.
  This is bringing many challanges.We cannot afford the luxury of 
  putting our head in the sand and wishing for the "old days". Those are gone,
  we now have a sport where people are professional, horses have become 
valuable
  and prizemeney is becoming significant. This cannot be reversed. >>
 
 Dear Michael Stone:
 
 I believe that most people who are up in arms about the changes taking place 
in the sport of international endurance racing are not complaining about 
simple growth and change.  It's the DIRECTION of the change that many fear, 
and the fear is for the welfare of the horses that will be involved in this 
new wave of professionalism and large money prizes.
 
 The one aspect of the general sport of endurance that sets it apart from 
nearly all other equestrian endeavors is the fact that being an amateur is a 
strength.  It's at the core of the sport.  Owning, training, riding and 
worrying over one's own horse is what this sport is all about.  Amateurism is 
what protects our horses from ourselves.  Until just the last few years, 
nearly all of the world's greatest endurance horses were made famous by their 
owners and riders.  There were no jockeys in this sport.  Many of the great 
horses have lasted for a decade or more at extremely high levels of 
competition.  Our last five endurance world championships were won by three 
horses ridden by the people who owned them or a family member. RO Grand 
Sultan was owned and ridden by Beck Hart.  "Cash" and High Winds Jedi were 
owned and ridden by Valerie Kanavy or her daughter Danielle.  These women 
were not paid to ride these horses.  They valued these horses as their 
talented partners.
 
 Professionalism is not synonymous with good horsemanship either.  Let's not 
confuse the two.  Experience, intelligence, and a genuine concern for the 
welfare of one's horse is what good horsemanship is about.  Success in 
endurance, especially lasting success, can only be achieved with good 
horsemanship.
 
  Injecting new money into the sport has, indeed, made some horses more 
valuable and big prize money is there for the taking.  These two facts are 
not, on the surface, where the worry for this sport's future lies.  It's the 
means that too many will take to win the brass ring that makes many worry.  
And for good reason.  The attrition rate during international endurance 
events is worsening.  The higher the stakes, the more fame and fortune to be 
won, the more risk riders and owners are willing to take.  It's simple human 
nature.  
 
 Let me give you an example of the way it was...I represented the US in the 
1994 World Equestrian Games in Holland.  We flew to Germany with the show 
jumping horses and their grooms.  Those grooms thought that we, the owners 
and riders of our endurance horses, were the grooms for those horses.  They 
watched us feed, fuss, and worry over our horses.  In their realm, the owners 
and riders don't have the hands on time with the horses that we do.  They 
were so surprised that we were taking care of our horses' every need.  It's 
this closeness and concern that has made the great horse and rider teams.  
The sport of endurance, no matter what the level of competition, will lose 
its very ESSENCE without this unique, and for lack of a better word, amateur 
aspect. 
 
 Professionalism and prize money creates an extreme pressure on the horses to 
perform, even on a bad day.  Certain drugs are permitted in other FEI 
disciplines.  Other illegal but untestable drugs are in use throughout the 
horse industry, even in endurance.  There are dirty little secrets in the 
sport of endurance, too.  How long will we be able to keep our sport "clean" 
as far as drug use is concerned when the stakes are so high?  
 
 Michael, you said, "This cannot be reversed."  Of course not.  No one can 
ever go back in time.  But, maybe we can go "Back to the Future."  Slow down, 
be careful, look at the results, look at the horse debris left behind in the 
wake of this change.  Change and growth are good things, as long as the road 
taken is the high road.  Thanks for speaking out on Ridecamp and letting the 
masses hear your voice.  And thanks for listening to mine.
 
 Debi Gordon