Ridecamp: FW: [RC] King of What???

Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Morris [mailto:bobmorris@xxxxxxxx]
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2002 8:18 AM
To: tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [RC] King of What???


Last check I had of International members was 329. One must
realize that only a portion of these contributors actually
ride FEI rides. To be very generous I would state that there
are 80 actual international riders in the AERC. That is 25%
of the international members and a very small percentage of
the overall AERC membership.

The argument put forth by the un-named contributor is a very
good one on the surface, but a very spurious one based on
the numbers.

Let's look at this a bit deeper. Our emasculated writer
states <<<AERC Is still King and will be for a long
time???>>>> AERC has never been "King" and has never
pretended to be of royal delineation. Just common USA folks
that like horses and prefer to ride long distances. AERC has
never pretended to be any thing but has existed as a service
organization to bring together equestrians of like interest.

Our portender of doom for the AERC also states <<<The sport
of endurance RACING is what is heading to the Olympics>>>> I
really hope this contributor is as young as the writing
indicates as they will need all the youth they can garner to
be alive when Endurance is entered into the Olympic venue.

Now, let's get down and dirty!  The posting stated <<< 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.>>>

The facts please not conjecture! How many "top events" have
been conducted with our AERC Sanctioning? And then, what are
you considering "top Events" Explanation Please.

As for another entity taking over as the controlling
organization? Be aware that this action will require the
revision of the USA-E Rules and Regulations that currently
state <<<Article 2101. Preamble.1. GENERAL.  The following
rules and regulations have been adopted from those of the
American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), the official
Federation endurance discipline organization>>>> Not an easy
thing to do nor would it be an inexpensive undertaking.

Now, this unidentified contributor to the day's interest
states<<<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,>>>>

They must have some very good inside information not
available to the rest of us. But then this is a very safe
statement never meant to be serious. How could it be serious
when they are nameless and the return address is not
traceable. We will never be capable of collecting that cup
of coffee.

Now, NO NAME, if you have the facts, show them. If you have
the conviction that you are correct prove it. If you have
any honor and integrity, come from behind the veil of
ambiguity and correspond with me person to person.

I stand behind every thing I write and am proud to sign my
name!

Bob

Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Truman
Prevatt
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2002 6:52 AM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] King of What???


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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 Information, Policy, Disclaimer:
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 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
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