RE: FEI

["Corbelletta, Antonio" <Antonio_Corbelletta@affymetrix.com>]

Having had experience in various other sports with many levels of
competition(I can discuss these if you wish), in my experience any time you
start to compete at an International level that is a Higher level.  That
does not mean that all the international competitors are better than the
ones that compete only in National and regional events but the
requirements/rules what have you are stricter.  Not everyone likes that
level, that is fine.  
I take issue with you saying to have just a few "token rides".  What about
the competitors that want these rides?  Who are you to say to them "We can't
have them because I don't like your rules"?  I am only saying that:
1.  Those that wish to compete in FEI should, and those that don't don't
have too.  
2.  I see no problem to have two rides on the same day, same trail.  Hell,
it has been done with AERC & NATRC at the same time and those are really
different.
3.  Some of the FEI rules are silly, but some I can see were they are coming
from and maybe AERC may benefit.  (Animal rights is a growing concern even
in this country whether we like or not)
One Ol' Cowboy that is just wondering what all the fuss is about.
Tony Corbelletta
 
 
 
 Original Message-----
From: SandyDSA@aol.com [mailto:SandyDSA@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 9:49 AM
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: FEI



In a message dated 5/9/01 9:19:17 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
Antonio_Corbelletta@affymetrix.com writes: 




Maybe you are not ready able or want to move up 
to this level of competition.  Yes it is a higher level. 




Higher level of what? Fitness? preparation? Ability? I think not. It seems a

little odd that dress codes, parking issues and such would indicate a higher

level. Different, yes. Higher? I think not. 

Aside from that, it would seem that the issue is one of a sense that FEI is 
trying take over endurance. If not, then I would imagine a few token rides 
each season available as dual sanctioned events would not be an issue; 
however, if this is a trend - or "the future" as some put it, many of us are

vehemently opposed, and this rider and the vast majority of riders do not 
WANT to be governed by FEI. We are satisfied with AERC  -  since it has 
nothing else to DO but endurance, it has our best interests at heart. This 
can hardly be said for an organization that sanctions and controls various 
and many disciplines at numerous levels all over the world. Of course, we
are 
strong supporters of local government here - keep the Feds out of our lives
- 
so it would follow that we don't want anyone messing with our "local" AERC. 
In other words, FEI can go do whatever it wants - just not on our dime and
by 
riding roughshod over AERC and its members. This is what we are worried
about 
happening. It has nothing whatever to do with higher levels and other 
misconstrued notions of ability, fitness or involvement. 
s