Gee it's funny that many of you turn a blind eye to effect of a
negative perception of endurance based USEF / FEI style endurance. Maybe you
feel insulated. Don't be surprised to find that you are not. It doesn't matter
what the organization is called. There are people who don't like what we do and
they will do everything they can to stop us. I know Barbara, your family spent
an awful lot of money to protect your way of life and your business. I was there
and saw it happen. You can call what you do "ride a lot" or forest
management, in Barbara's case, but if an organized group decides they don't like
it watch out. It didn't take a lot of people in Santa Cruz to affect Big Creek's
logging business. Also, I'm sure everybody has seen a ride sabotaged. I just
don't think turning a blind eye to what USEF / FEI does, when they call it
endurance, is the smart thing to do if we want to protect what we do. If you
have a better way to protect what we do then say so. Just don't say you don't
want to support USEF / FEI. Tell me how you think you can protect AERC from
negative perceptions of USEF / FEI style endurance. I think if we just say we
are different we may be surprised to find that others don't think so. Come up
with a better idea. Turning a blind eye won't fly. USEF / FEI is not going
away.
