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Re: [RC] Sweepstakes & purchase advice - Eric RueterAngie, On the sweepstakes prize money. Yes you have to be a AHA member, about $50 ($45 plus local Club Dues ours are $10) a year, but for that money you also get $1,000,000 in horse liability insurance! Also Josie can join for much less ($20 plus local club dues - youth are free in our local club) but I do not know the rules for minor/juniors and sweepstakes money. The second part to the Sweepstakes prize money is the horse has to be a Sweepstakes horse. This can be very expensive. The short story is IF the sire or dam is a Sweepstakes nominated horse AND you nominate the foal prior to birth, the cost is $400 (some breeders routinely do this for all their foals). If this is not the case, and all you want to do is compete your horse then you can nominate your horse at anytime for the sum of $5000. If you are a breeder, and want to earn money from the offspring of your mare or stallion and be eligible to nominate those offspring for the $400 fee, then the cost for that is between $2400 and $4000 depending on several factors. You only have to pay these fees one time and the horse is good for life. Now you are a AHA member, you have a Sweepstakes nominated horse, and no food on your table after paying all those fees. What good is that? You can ride in any AHA regional rides and the AHA National Championship and if you win, you can take home some fairly impressive prizes! Region XII (the SouthEast) moves it's Regional ride around, so it is unpredictable as to when and where. Region XIII(?) holds it's regional Ride every other year at Bill's Place (Spook Run, Top-of-the-rock, Chicken Chase), alternating years it is in Michigan. You might be able to travel to Region IX, XI, XIV and XV depending on where they hold their regional (IF they hold a regional endurance race - nothing says they have to, but with the change in attitudes - I like to think of it as an "awakening to reality" - any existing AERC ride should be able to talk their respective region into sponsoring an AHA regional ride if there is not already one). Also, beware, I am not sure about this, but I seem to remember something about not Sweepstakes payout for 50 mile rides, it may only pay for 100 mile rides. I just tried to check the web site and it did not stipulate, so if you are interested, just drop them a line. The AHA National Championship ride is moved around the country. This year it is in Canada I think, I just know it was too far away for Nelia to go to. The Sweepstakes payouts are for the Regional ride are, $1000 Champion, $500 Reserve and $250 for Top Five(each). The National Champion is $5000, Reserve $2500 and $525 for Top Ten. Would make a trip worth the drive.....yes? You can read all about the Sweepstakes Prize money at www.arabianhorses.org Activities->Prize Money Programs. Now drag in my soapbox. All that money, it *could* make you forget *why* you are riding....However, it would help finance the program for a while. BTW, there are a lot of programs within AHA which do not cost a lot, AND are good for your "goal" setting. Check out the Frequent Rider program. You "log" time spent on your horse when you are *not* in competition (and what group of people spend more time on their horse when not competing than Distance riders?). You are awarded prizes at each milestone you pass along with a patch. The second program you should also check out are the Horse Achievement Awards. You pay minimal annual fee ($20 a year), but AHA keeps "points" for each ride you finish, and if you top ten / BC then you get extra points (they actually have a harder to figure formula than AERC--didn't think that was possible). I mean your horse, not you. When your horse has x number of points The Registry / AHA adds special characters to the end of the horses name. We think it's a good way to "honor" the horse, since it actually changes the registered name, and it stays with the horse! Just because these any of the AHA programs do not say "ENDURANCE" in the program title, does not mean that AHA is ignoring this great equine community. AHA also has a Competitive Distance Program. I have not looked into this but it is all on their website. Off my soap box now. Oh, yeah, a shameful commercial plug....The Knoxville Arabian Horse Club is sponsoring this years Big South Fork Endurance Ride 30/50-30/50, September 10-11, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area Oneida/Jamestown TN..Entries can be found online at AERC or SERA. There Angie, you asked me to post to RC, and not just to you. thanx eric Eric Rueter Rueter Consulting, Inc. Eric@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 865.988.4134(W) 865.599.3594(C) 865.986.5966(H) ----- Original Message ----- From: <rides2far@xxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 5:53 PM Subject: [RC] Sweepstakes & purchase advice Well guys, I've been horse shopping for the first time in years. Would you believe I was down to TWO horses, with 2 riders here? (I don't believe in accumulating them). But then I brought home my neice's horse to ride which made 3 and realized that if I take Ben & Rock somewhere that leaves Kaboot without a buddy...so I guess I HAVE to buy a new prospect, right? :-D So, it's very interesting. I've looked at 5 possibilities. All have their good points. One is Sweepstakes. I know that makes it *possible* to make some money but have only a basic understanding of how. Do I have to join AHA for it? I'm assuming I pay the double entry fee to be eligible. How much do you have a chance to win? Granted, I never got into endurance for a profit but if somebody wanted to give me a check for something I was already doing I'd take it. Second, Just a question on taste. Some horses are strong looking, and seem "tight". Then there are the sort of lanky, loose ones who just totally "float". Those things look like perpetual motion machines with their legs just swinging so free and loose, covering so much ground seemingly effortlessly, but then when I think about the "good 100's" at Biltmore, they seem to be the "tighter" type. One horse that I looked at is fairly light weight, 14.3 or so, fairly trim legs but big 'ol joints and good sized feet. Good looking topline but a bit flat in the croup. Unregistered, so don't know background. I'm mentally comparing him to a little Arab "jeep" that looked tough and strong, but probably not a Cadillac to ride. If you don't feel like preparing a "ridecamp worthy message" just drop me a one liner stating your preference...and maybe "why". Angie "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming --WOW-- what a ride !! " ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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. 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