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RE: [RC] apples/oranges/UAE - Bob MorrisTerre: I believe that you have a popular concept of the FEI that does not conform to their credo. It is as follows: The primary mission of the FEI is to advance the orderly growth of equestrian sport world-wide by promoting, regulating and administering humane and sportsmanlike international competition in the traditional equestrian discipline and by helping them to evolve in ways that enhance their attractiveness both for the participants and the public, while respecting and furthering the ideals and principles of horsemanship. Now I must take issue with your statement <<<AERC seeks to represent ALL endurance riders in America->>> The AERC is mandated by the National Federation, The USA-E, by the statement <<<The following rules and regulations have been adopted from those of the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), the official Federation endurance discipline organization,>>> This is excerpted from the USA-E Rulebook. Bob Bob Morris Morris Endurance Enterprises Boise, ID -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of terre Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2004 11:35 AM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] apples/oranges/UAE One thought for your consideration: It seems to me that there are 3 separate (but related) players here--AERC, FEI, and UAE--and we have a tendency to lump 2 out of the 3 together at different times during these discussions. FEI's "job" is to identify the horse(s) that are the "best in the world" at any given particular event--the horse that can jump the highest, perform the best dressage test, or go 100 miles the fastest. They have no mandate or interest in 'historical' mileage, any more than they do in recruiting riders, education, or trail preservation. These are AERC's "jobs". AERC seeks to represent ALL endurance riders in America--regardless of distance, age, or goals--and going at any distance the fastest is only one of the goals we acknowledge. Endurance is really a very 'new' FEI discipline. We all 'grew up' under AERC, are committed to its philosophy, and most of us do not aspire to "winning races" (at least as our primary goal--we have others). The biggest adjustment "we" have had to make to FEI (those that compete at this level), is accepting the rigid constraints of rules/dress codes/stabling--and the total lack of interest in career longevity of the horses, since this is an AERC "thing" and not an FEI "thing". (Note that in pretty much all other equestrian disciplines, it is EXPECTED that the horses will be trained to 'peak' for one or two events, and will have a short (5-6 year) competitive career. Most of them only go to one Olympics...they retire before the next one). UAE, on the other hand, is newer to endurance than FEI. They "grew up" under FEI, where the total focus is on 'winning the one-day 100'. They have no background of 'a bunch of buddies meeting in a field somewhere to go for a ride'. They may, someday, become interested in 'historical mileage'--when they have a long enough history to record some! The day may also come (perhaps it already has) when they become interested in expanding the sport in UAE to include shorter distances and 'the common man'. But for now, their sole exposure has been to the high profile 100-mile race--and they have certainly perfected their approach to it. terre ============================================================ If you treat an Arab like a Thoroughbred, it will behave like a Quarter horse. ~ Libby Llop ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================ ===========================================================REAL endurance is reading the LD vs. Endurance thread/debate every 3 months!!! ~ Heidi Sowards ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ===========================================================
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