Re: RC: RE: RE: Worlds Most Preferred--Really?

["Truman Prevatt, PhD" <truman.prevatt@netsrq.com>]

There are many issues that are involved with this. First is the issue that
someone, e.g. Debi, or Bob or whoever, cannot raise questions and concerns without
someone directing a comment that "this is a lack of sportsmanship", or accuse them
of saying "nasty" things about people - our friends who have gone over, etc.  The
same things for questioning the selection process for the US team in the worlds or
one of the time zone teams in the Pan Am's. Just because someone doesn't agree
with the process does NOT mean they are implying the people chosen should not be
there nor that people are not trying to do their level best, it means the process
needs to be analyzed using logic rather then emotion. This reminds me a lot of the
"Viet Nam" era where if one questioned the wisdom of the US involvment, you were
somehow considered a "disloyal citizen."  Maybe Teddy should come up with the
endurance riding equilvalent to the old bumber sticker, "My Country - Love it or
Leave it." We are never going to make progress on an issue if the issue cannot be
discussed!

TI hit it on the head when he brought up the fact that in the UAE and probably
much of Europe this is becoming a professional sport!  Many of these countries
have government sponsorship for their riders!   Is the US going to compete with
this - or should I say is the US going to compete with this with FEI under the
wings of the AERC?  I the US ever going to get Government support for it's
equestrian team - nope it's not our way. I don't know but it's a question that
should be asked and answers found using logic, not emotion. It does seem that the
US has not kept pace with the emergence of the sport on the FEI level. It seems
that there is insufficient infrastructure to support the US riders - not to
mention funding - compared to the UAE and the Europeans. Our riders are for the
most part amateurs - not they they are not good - but that the sport is not a
significant part of their daily life. Of course there are a exceptions to this.

I believe that until these issues are addressed we are not going to be able to
take a position of dominance in FEI endurance. Is it up the the AERC to do this or
should to the riders establish the necessary infrastructure under a different
sturcture?   While the AERC may seem a logical candidate, there is absolutely
nothing wrong for a sport to be organized at the amateur level and the
professional level by two different organizations, for example the NCAA or AAU for
amateur athletics and the NBA, NFL, NHL, etc. for professional counterparts.

And to address Jim's comments I do not believe personally that we need to change
the rules of the game because of what people see going on in FEI rides. If you
look at the AERC it has something for everyone - for the rider who wants to rack
up miles, the rider that can only get out and do a few rides a year (maybe even
LDs), for the family who sees this a good family activity and yes for the racer.
In the FEI world there are basically the racers!  While maybe 10 to 20 percent of
riders at a backyard AERC ride are "racers", more like 99% that go to FEI events
are racers. There is nothing wrong with that, but that fact should not drive AERC
to change any rules that would impact our bread and butter, the backyard rides. I
ask you is Trilby a very deserving member of the AERC Hall of Fame? A also ask you
- unless she changed - would she ever make a good FEI candidate?  Different
outlook on the sport, neither is superior to the other and both deserve to be
rewards under the AERC tent.

Cheers
Truman

Jim Holland wrote:

> I have followed this thread with great interest and I agree with
> Debi...but I also agree with Bob.  It all depends on where you stand
> when you view the situation.  The one thing that has not been mentioned
> is the perspective of others when they look at our sport.  If I ever
> feel that this sport is not dominated by people who care deeply about
> the welfare of their horses and mostly do this simply "For Love of the
> Game", I'm outta here.  If Debi's post were to be published in the local
> PETA propaganda, what would the lay person see?  This is our sport and
> it is our responsibility to regulate it and insure that it continues to
> grow.
>
> Perhaps it's time to look at the way we "win".  "Win" is defined by the
> rules of the game.  If you change the rules, you get another definition
> of the same thing.  Maybe Endurance should move toward more of a team
> sport?  Something to think about. If you could change the rules, what
> would you do differently? Can we keep it competitive, fun, and avoid the
> inevitable clash over horse abuse?