Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Heidi wrote:

> Funny, I was disappointed that Ft. Howes was both the NC and an FEI 
> ride because of the unfairness to those who would like to get an FEI 
> qualification but who either choose not to support the NC or whose 
> horses are not qualified to do the 100 at the NC. At least we can agree 
> that the AERC NC should not be an FEI ride.

I had some thoughts on this.   First, the AERC NC is *supposed* to 
be the best of the best of our sport... kind of like another version 
of the old ROC format (as an aside I'd like to see the qualifications 
for our NC be a lot stiffer... make it mean something ... something 
to earn, like qualifying for the ROC).   Thus, you would think that 
the FEI type horse are exactly those who would also be at the NC 
anyways.   ie, there wouldn't be any "FEI hopefulls who couldn't 
qualify for the NC".   Perhaps some who didn't qualify *this* year, 
but that's why there is a next year.   

Second, I have private feed back from FEI riders that if the NC is 
not an FEI qualification ride and there is an FEI qualification ride 
on or around the same time, they would need to go ride the FEI 
qualification ride.   Anyone in this position is certainly welcome 
to chime in publically. 

So, the big thing here would be do we force our FEI level riders to 
chose between international and home?   No matter what my feeling 
on AERC-I is that this point, I would hate to see our AERC riders put 
in a position to be split.   We just don't have that many 100 mile 
riders... and less of that quality.   

HOWEVER, as I've said many times before, I really want to see all of 
the AERC rides here at home to be competed fairly... that means 
drug testing, following ... not bending... rules, etc.   Integrity is what 
makes all of this mean anything.

Kathy Myers
in Santa Fe, NM