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    Re: [RC] King of What??? - Truman Prevatt


    On this issue I always come back to the numbers. There are only about 300 to 400 AERC Int members (I'm sure Bob Morris can supply the exact number). This is on the order of 5% of the membership and includes myself. Of these members there are probably a third who belong because we believe that the AERC should support the opportunity of every member to pursue international competition. While a person may have no interest at present, someday you might have a great horse and decide to take a shot. But realistically 5% of an organization cannot legitimately dictate policy and direction for the organization.

    On the other hand my concept is not that of a flat track 80 mile race on a flat track - it's of a true American style endurance ride - head to head competition by well prepared rider/horse teams on a challenging trail, be it 100 of deep sand in FL, the OD, the Swanson Pacific, the Tevis, the Biltmore and the type of courses usually used for the PanAm. Speaking for myself, I do not support endurance riding as high stakes flat track distance races. This is not the sport of endurance riding as practiced by the rank and file AERC member. Will another organization rise and take over endurance racing. I would be hard pressed to think that 300 to 400 people is going to get much attention - but who knows. The number will probably on the order of 200 to 300 since people like myself won't support the new organization.

    Will endurance ever be in the Olympics? Who knows but I can tell you that the sport of reining, which is an FEI sport, would be a much bigger draw as far as a spectator sport. It is fast, exciting and geared to an attention span of several minutes - rather than several hours, it can co-use facilities that will already exist in the Olympics. I will not cost the organizers additional for facilities or security necessary for an endurance course. And I for one can't see the IOC admitting two equestrian sports in the near future. Only time will tell on that.

    Truman

    Ridecamp Guest wrote:

    horsesofcourses horsesofcourses@xxxxxxxxxxxx
    AERC Is still King and will be for a long time??? The sport of endurance RACING is what is heading to the olympics, and AERC has done everything it can to make it clear it doesn't want to join. And that is fine, I think AERC should remain in place to serve the riders who want to continue to keep the pasttime of endurance riding small and more of a backyard fun weekend. Make no mistake about it, AERC has lost its position in the USA and the world for the top riders, it is just a matter of time before another "entity" emerges in the USA to take over as the controlling organization of the sport of endurance racing. And it ain't gonna be AERC I can promise you that! Watch, and you shall see, one and then another top events will go forward without AERC sanctioning. How many horses died at FEI events last year? How many at AERC rides? Collect the facts and you will see that your fear that RACING will destroy the sport is quite the opposite, it has actually brought more fit horses to the trail, you can listen to the rumors all you want about how fast they go, but go in person and see that these horses are lookin' good at the finish, better than alot of the USA horses at endurance "rides" I've been to. I think FEI is getting tired of the battle with the narrow focus of AERC, so I'll buy everyone a cup of coffee this time next year if we don't see the FEI go to another group to handle the FEI endurance races and AERC will be left out, but apparently that is what all ya'll want right, for those "racers" to leave us alone? Well, good buddies, that is exactly what they are planning to do I am sure, but they aren't going to leave the sport alone, just AERC.



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    [RC] King of What???, Ridecamp Guest