Re: RC: riding Amateur or Professional

[Trailrite@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/13/00 8:11:52 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
qhjanet@hotmail.com writes:

<< We tend to get stuck in the arguments about limited distance and endurance 
 based on the number of miles.  Here's another perspective, and it should 
 engender discussion:  There are different levels of competition and ability 
 in endurance (racing).  It may be that the separation will evolve more 
 toward amateur/semi-professional/ professional, similar to other equine 
 sports (I'm thinking rodeo at this time, but dressage also comes to mind).  
 Also, there are sports which have different levels, or leagues, as in 
 softball/baseball.  (I know speaking about such in relationship to endurance 
 is heresy or apostasy, but I'm struggling to find a good analogy.)>>
 
    From Tammy; Just some thoughts here;  AERC riders are amateur, as for 
that they don't or shouldn't earn monies for level of competition.  They win 
awards not money.
    In most other sports (example; The American Bicycle Assoc.), once you 
have earned monies in competition then you have reclassified yourself as a 
professional.  This is done by entering or reclassifying yourself before you 
are entitled to enter a Pro-Class.   In these cases, once you've earned money 
as a professional rider, then you can't go back to the amateur levels, 
without reclassifying through that origination. Most of the time you can only 
go back to amateur rating once in your life time. This is the difference 
between amateur and professional.  You can have in an amateur rating Novice, 
Intermediate, Expert levels.  Maybe it's the horse that needs to be 
classified not the rider.  Or, better yet, a combination of horse/rider as a 
team of professional or amateur classifications.

<< For instance, some folks use electronic aids; some don't.  To me, there is 
a 
 considerable difference, one which at some point could differentiate 
 professional from non.  This is NOT to say that a top competitive rider 
 couldn't, can't, or shouldn't ride without monitors; it simply is not a 
 level playing field when the mix in the field is so diverse.  A top 
 competitive 100 miler is not in the same league as a consistently mid field 
 25 miler; nor is the top 100 miler in the same league as a consistently 
 tailender 100 miler.>>

    From Tammy; As for Heart Monitors, this I feel is more of a choice than a 
level of how your riding.  Another thing here is that sometimes it's the 
horse that has the level of completion not the rider.  If your starting out 
on a horse that hasn't done a 100 Vs a horse that you now have been doing 
100s for a while, that makes the difference.  Most riders feel what their 
horse is up to, during a ride.  A lot of the times the rider will hope for a 
good placement, only to find out that the horse their riding that day might 
not be up to it.
    There are to many variables to just put a name on what endurance riders 
do.  That is what is so nice about this sport.  You have choices before, 
during and after competition.
 
 <<Is it the horse or the rider?  The rider makes the choice on distance 
based 
 on an assessment of the horse's capability and the DESIRE of the rider to go 
 further.  This is similar to track racing, except the owner may be the 
 "jockey.">>

    From Tammy; I agree.  But it's not a amature/professional thing.
 
<<To conclude for now:  As we consider Olympics and other high level 
 competitions for endurance (yes, there is FEI), it is apparent that there 
 are levels of competence and competition in endurance racing, and that, it 
 seems to me, is ultimately more significant that the length of the ride.>>
 
    From Tammy; Most riders do not care about the choice they have made as to 
the distance of the ride.  What always seems to come up on this discussion is 
the recognition of what they have accomplished.  AERC's LD has a program that 
gives this.  Maybe most riders that are just getting into endurance do not 
know this, since some are new to this sport and haven't found this out.  Some 
are not members yet and don't get the EN and/or see it in any other form.  
Most riders or horses have to start some where.  Some never go into any other 
levels.  But this again is a choice.  If this is their choice then so be it, 
for whatever reason.  I don't think we even need to know their reasons.  It's 
what they want to do that day, or year, or lifetime.

 <<Janet B (and Handsome, oh no you don't I'm happy in the pasture; China, 
 Yikes, it's a tiger whaddya mean its a water pump); and Spike, okay let's go 
 what's that, ok I'm ready, no what's that, ok I'm ready, whew, faster 
 ?????OKKKAAAYYYY!!!)  >>

    From Tammy; Just some thoughts on how to maybe handle our growing sport.

Tammy Robinson
Trail-Rite Ranch & Products
661/513-9269