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[RC] [RC] AERC NC's - Patti



......
My question for the day is what does it take to make the AERC NC's the =
Premier Ride and have National Participation it deserves?

5:55 AM
Slight mist 60 degrees

ts
- A permanent venue so it can develop a "character" of it's own.
 
- Reconsidering the qualifications
 
Venue -
You can take this for what it's worth as I'm still a "wannabee" but after following Ridecamp for a few years, it appears that American Endurance riders don't particularly care about big money or impressive awards - but a buckle from Tevis or OD is something to be cherished. The "good" rides (both large and small) develop an aura of their own over time - based on terrain, challenge, organization. The "big" rides also seem to have an infrastructure that is able to support the influx of riders, crew, trailers, volunteers, staff, etc.
While Auburn is the "heart" of Endurance in the US, a more centrally located permanent venue for the NC could develop it's own personality and also provide a central place for training camps, BOD meetings, maybe even convention. This could also make it more realistic for Regions to consider fielding regional teams. AERC support and, possibly, a permanent ride management staff would probably be needed.
 
Qualifications -
While maintaining the minimum mileage, IMO the qualifications could, on one hand, be more reflective of prior achievement (ie, the path to becoming a "champion") while, on the other, be less "restrictive" (ie, align them with the current AERC points system).
By including "top ten" in ALL the AERC award categories by Region (rather than only "top 5 in weight category on a ride), for either current or prior year, this would give those riders/horses an opportunity to "top dog" in a category even if they were unable to accumulate total points for a given season and also broaden the entry pool. Adding a Team category (requiring only that horse/rider meet mileage qualification) could add another aspect of competition, especially for those good, steady horses/riders that might not be top ten contenders.
 
Just my thoughts - while volunteering at a NC a few years ago was a great introduction to endurance, it wasn't near as much fun as volunteering at some smaller rides and, currently, isn't on my "dream list" for volunteering/working/possibly riding in the future. 
 
Patti K
Vail AZ