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Re: [RC] President's Cup Race (in my opinion) - Barbara McCraryI believe this is how we got involved with FEI in the first place. I remember back in 1983, at an AERC board meeting, Matthew Mackay-Smith saying, "If we don't become involved, then someone else is going to make the rules and we won't be able to do a thing about it." So, we became involved with FEI, and have, in reality, influenced FEI rules a great deal whether we realize it or not. You should have heard some of the rules BEFORE our influence was felt. Now flat-track desert sand rides are something else, and not something with which I am at all familiar. Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alison Farrin" <alison@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <steph@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <KimFue@xxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 10:29 AM Subject: RE: [RC] President's Cup Race (in my opinion) But, Steph, what you forgot to mention is despite all the hoopla, you rode your own race and took good care of your horse. This is the other side of the coin from Kim's comments; that the Americans that go and race are a visible example of the RIGHT way to do it. (Not disparaging other riders who may also be doing it right, I just know that most of the Americans over there right now know how to do it right with the horse's welfare first.) If all the public sees is publicity surrounding a bunch of yahoos overriding their horses, endurance racing gets a bad rap. If Showtime is covering the American riders as much as I would expect given their potential audience, the public will come away with quite a different picture. If we are isolationist, we give up our ability to affect the outcome of events outside our sphere. If we are revolutionary, we at least have a voice in the process. Alison A. Farrin Innovative Pension Innovative Retirement Services 858-748-6500 x 107 alison@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Steph Teeter Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 9:37 AM To: KimFue@xxxxxxx; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: [RC] President's Cup Race (in my opinion) Kim, I appreciate your comments, and candidness. I suspect that most in the US, and many in other countries agree with you. I'll give you my candid reasons for involvement with UAE events. 1. as an Endurance news website: I try to present to the world, what is happening in the world. The Pres Cup is an extreme endurance Racing event - money, press, betting, groomed flat track. Not the sport that we nurture here in the US. My personal opinion is that events like this are bad for our sport. ...But Endurance Net is a news medium, and the Pres Cup is newsworthy. Everyone will have their own opinions as to whether it is bad/good/indifferent for the sport of endurance. My goal with Endurance Net is to provide the information - let people know what is happening out there, as well as at home. Once you know, you can do what you will with the information. (it was not an accident that I put the Pres Cup banner below Frank's comments) 2. as a rider: When I received an invitation to ride in the World Cup (Dubai) with Khruschev, I didn't hesitate for a second. Everybody has a price, mine is the thrill of adventure. I ate their food, I dined and lounged in tents set up in the middle of the desert - carpets, hubbly bubbly pipes, the feel and smell of mid-Eastern air. I spent 3 weeks in an exotic foreign country with my husband and one of my sons. I rode across sand dunes among the camels - this was AWESOME! I met some very fine people. It was a most incredible adventure, I don't regret it for a second, and I would do it again. Steph -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of KimFue@xxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 10:02 AM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] President's Cup Race (in my opinion) This is only my opinion and as I reread what I wrote I know it sounds harsh. I apologize for not being able to put my opinion in words that are softer and less offensive. I know I may be sorry I ever posted this to a public list but I am just so tired of the endless propaganda campaign that is being waged to promote the UAE style of racing through e mails I receive and advertizing on both endurance.net and Endurance News. Sandy wrote that she would like to see Americans interviewed at the President's Cup. Any American that is over there to be interviewed obviously agrees with the "President Cup Concept" or they wouldn't participate in that venue as a rider, vet, or trainer. When the best US riders accept invitations to race they are in essence telling the world that they and unfortunately the USA (they do represent US endurance riding even if it is not "formal representation"because the home country is mentioned and many of these same riders do represent the US at FEI events) that this type of racing is OK. It is amazing what a lot of money and hype and hoopla can cover up....this is really not that much different than a back yard jack pot race (fast courses, betting, and big purses) wearing the clothing of an Olympic style event. I may not like this style of endurance riding and I do not think it is good for the sport but what I hate even more is the hypocrisy of so many riders that choose to participate. I wish those riders would just come out and say we are here for the free trip, the perks, and the purse. But instead I have heard so many praise UAE and the racing system created in the middle east. I would bet that these same endurance riders would condemn this type of riding if it popped up in the US without the "big bucks" backing it. In my eyes, the top riders around the world are invited and bought only to bring legitimacy and prestige to an event that would otherwise be condemned by most of the international endurance community. I could stomach this a lot better if every one were just honest about what is going on. There are many equestrian sports that become corrupt from big money....this type of endurance racing would not be the first. Kim Fuess =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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