1. I think location will always be a factor in who
attends a National Championship.
2. The way I feel now is that the NC 100 is just
another 100 or just another ride. I don't know why I didn't feel that way
with the ROC. I always felt that ride was special and it wasn't just the
big $$ prizes as I never had a horse that was capable of that kind of
performance. I think it was the qualifications that made that
ride seem more than just another 100. You actually had to work to get
a horse qualified.
3. Big prize money or big $$ awards would only
interest me if I thought I had a chance to win them. In 20+ years of
endurance, I have yet to feel I had a horse that had a chance in hell to win a
trailer. With travel costs the way they are today, I might be better off
to stay at home and take the money I save from not attending the ride and
putting it towards the new trailer :)
4. Kat is right on the mark when she talks about
the challenge of the trail. I think this is what makes the Tevis Cup a
really big deal and attracts riders from every region and from all over the
world. I can't imagine any National Championship getting an emotional
response from riders like the Tevis Cup does. I like Kat, some day want to
travel to do Big Horn. It is definitely the challenge of the trail that is
attractive NOT the competition I am riding against. If I had a choice to
attend the Big Horn ride as a NC or as a regular ride I would choose the regular
because it is more low key and probably less costly.
5. National Championship rides in and of
themselves only attract those that want to be crowned champion. I know
there are some that want to participate but it seems that these riders would not
be the ones willing to travel to the other side of the country to attend.
If qualifications are minimal, there is not even the satisfaction that
part of the goal is accomplishing the qualifications to get to the
ride.
6. National championships completers
should get a perk or something special. The idea of double
points for participants that Eric mentioned is a good one because this might be
an incentive for riders who are interested in year end
awards. Perhaps every
National Championships should give belt buckles as completion awards like Ride
and Tie. Belt buckles have always been a tradition in endurance and it
would give some continuity as this event moves to a different location
every year. The design could change and be unique for each championship
location.which features a different trail each year. AERC could have a
design contest every year for the NC belt buckle if they want more participation
from the entire membership. AERC could also give horses 5 year and
10 year buckles if the horse completes 5 or 10 National
Championships. They could recognize riders who have completed 5 and 10
National Championships. Now I could see how this might motivate riders to
focus on the NC. It would also give riders a really nice belt buckle
collection to display :) Now someone might travel a further distance
if they just needed one more championship ride for their 5 or 10 year buckle or
if they were collecting buckles and liked the this year's design. We
need to find ways to make the NC more than just another endurance ride. If
it isn't through stricter qualifications and if most AERC members are not
interested or do not have horses that are able to win big $$ awards, there
better be another gimmick to attract them to paricipate even when it isn't in
their back yard.
7. I pretty much agree that the is no NC format
that will please everyone. But it never hurts to brainstorm and discuss
ways to make improvements.
