Ridecamp: [RC] AERC Non-Member Ride Fees/Was Venting

<<<I realize there must be some fees included, and that our state and
national forests are being rediculous about charging extra fees for use,
but this is getting out of hand! I just started in this sport, and ALL of my 
entry fees are over $50.00! Since I am not an AERC member yet, that means I 
automatically have another $10.00 added onto that. Okay, I
understand that as well. Membership has its privilages.  HOWEVER, this 
charging for camping, when it is REQUIRED that we be there a day early is 
getting to be rediculous! Soon, I will start talking with others at these 
rides and see what can be done.  I am NOT repeat NOT yelling about or AT the 
ride managers. Without them, there would be NO rides. What can we do about 
these fees? How are going to attract more new comers with such outragous 
costs involved? Just riding in a 25 miler is soon going to cost nearly 
$100.00! Who will be able to afford to ride in 50s or 100s soon?>>>

I understand your frustration on the cost of riding, but you have to 
remember that it is not cheap to put on these rides, and NO ONE is getting 
rich putting on these rides. It amazes me that any RM can even break even, 
and maybe that is why some rides have sponsors, to defray the cost of 
putting these on.  I have only done 25's so far, and it costs anywhere from 
$47 to $65, just for the ride fees.  But I did the math on it and I can't 
figure out how the ride managers can do it for this cost.

They have to pay for the vets, supplies, printing and mailing costs, food, 
any costs to use the site of the ride. I am sure that I am missing costs as 
well.  And don't think that the vets are getting rich either.  When you 
consider how much time a vet has to take out of their schedule, and how much 
they could be making over the same amount of time, vets are actually losing 
money by vetting rides.  Remember that if you are thinking about being 
anything other than super nice to them.

On the subject of mandatory overnight stays, I totally agree with it.  Any 
ride that is not within an hour ride of me, I go and stay overnight 
voluntarily.  It allow my horse to settle in and have a normal nights sleep 
and allows me to get a decent nights sleep.  I also get to vet in the night 
before so that (I hope) the ride will get out early.  So far, I have only 
been to rides that allow you to come in the morning, and it takes forever to 
get the horses vetted in the AM.  Most rides can't get this done and get 
riders out before 8:30.  I hate getting out late.  And if a ride close to me 
insisted that you are on the grounds the night before, I would do so 
willingly.

On the AERC non-member fee.  I am a new member to AERC, 2002 was the first 
year I had a membership.  I have been a member of ECTRA for 2 years and have 
been a member since my first ride.  I am also a member of the following 
organizations: APHA, AQHA, NEPHC, USTA, BSTRA, NEHT. Several of these 
organization (AERC included) require that I register my horses as well.  I 
am members of some of these groups because I own registered horses, and any 
transaction is cheaper as a member, sometimes enough to cover the cost of 
the membership. Other memberships are required to compete in shows or to 
even go on organized trail rides sponsored by groups.

My membership fees cost me over $400/year.  Membership is necessary for any 
organization to survive.  It is even more important for an organization, 
like AERC, that has a magazine.  Advertising rates in Endurance News are 
based on circulation, and the only thing that counts in circulation is 
subscriptions, and AERC's subscription base is it's membership.  So the more 
members, the higher the circulation numbers, the  more that they can charge 
for advertising, which is a higher revenue stream for AERC.  So it does 
actually cost AERC and the current membership by having non-members ride our 
rides.  So each member is VERY valuable to AERC, so much so, the non-member 
fee becomes punative, to almost force anyone who want to participate to 
join.

What really surprises me is that AERC doesn't charge a per ride non-member 
fee that is closer to the cost of a membership, so it becomes almost a no 
brainer to join.  The AQHA & APHA, if you purchase a horse and want to 
register it, it costs so much more as a non-member, that it is cheaper to 
become a member and transfer the registration than it to transfer the 
registration as a non-member.

Carolyn Burgess




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