Re: RC: endurance philosophy

[Jim Holland <lanconn@tds.net>]

Mike and Laurie..

The very BEST post I have seen lately.  Maybe we DO need an "amateur"
and a "professional" class as Truman intimated.  I just know I love this
sport and I don't want it to be screwed up by money, awards, or anything
else.  Sunny and I are so bonded, he would sleep in my tent (if I owned
a tent) <grin>.  I love my horse and I love this sport...it's unique in
all the horse world.

I LOVE college basketball, but never watch the pros....  Hmmmm..maybe we
need a distinction here.  I'm not willing to play in the UAE games.  I
wanta ride in Montana, Oregon, California,.....and with you...but I want
to do it for fun.  I want to do it in ENDURANCE...but for fun.  Yes,
Matilda, we boogie thru the bushes at breakneck pace, but if you know
your horse, and you know your limitations, there is no thrill like
it...your heart is in your throat, and your mind is lost in your horse,
and you are so a part of him you forget everything else but the
moment....whether you're in Egypt or North Georgia.

> Mike and Laurie Hilyard wrote:
> 
> I've been a member of AERC for 10 years, but between full time jobs,
> grad school, a marriage and a baby, I have had low mileages.  I kind
> of feel like an inside outsider, or an outside insider.  IMHO, when I
> first joined, AERC was having growing pains because it was going from
> board-meetings-in-Julie-Suhr's-living-room (sorry for using your name
> in vain, Julie!) to a more structured format, with places to lodge
> complaints, and committee members making decisions for and about
> people they had never met.  AERC survived that first real growth pang
> by raising membership rates, actively seeking limited corporate
> sponsorship, and accepting that they (the board) was going to have to
> administrate an organization that had expanded beyond California.  At
> that time, International riding was seemingly within everyone's grasp
> - all it took was the ability and time to condition for that level.
> Chances were, your competition was also juggling "outside" work and
> the decision between specialized horse shoes and braces for the kid's
> teeth.
> 
> To me, we are seeing the difference between NCAA and NBA participation
> as someone (Jim?  Bob?  Truman?) has already pointed out.  We haven't
> yet gone for the intermural games, a third level of competition  - our
> backyard rides still count for national points.  When we do (as I
> fully expect) those of us on the intermural level will be one step
> further away from caring what the FEI rules are.  From where I sit
> (not on my horses back often enough), I would just as soon that AERC
> not spend their hard won sponsorship dollars on such a select few
> riders.  AERC has about 6000 members.  Are even 60 of those
> consistently competing on the international level?  Let's be generous
> and say 5%, or 300, are.  How much of our sponsorship dollars are they
> worth?  Endurance is NOT a spectator sport.    Do you think the
> average team penner who trail rides a few times a year and might be
> convinced to give endurance or LD a try even knew there was a race in
> UAE last week?  Is AERC simply a training ground for international
> competitors, or is it an organization for those without international
> aspirations?