Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

And again I ask...why is AERC letting FEI rides take place with AERC sanctioned rides if it too expensive for members to even think about doing it?  What even makes this an AERC ride?

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From: Barbara McCrary <bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: RIDECAMP <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; stephanie teeter <stephteeter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tue, November 10, 2009 5:53:31 PM
Subject: Re: [RC] FEI entry fees

When the first FEI ride took place along with Swanton Pacific in 1986, I thought international riding was going to be such fun. Shortly thereafter, the FEI rules and regulations became stricter. Then the races became stranger...that is, flat track racing on the desert on a groomed trail with support vehicles driving alongside and spraying horses with water. This is when I started to lose interest in a big way. I was scolded by a foreign delegate I knew personally for not supporting her idea that AERC should adopt FEI rules and conduct our rides by them. I told her our AERC members didn't want that kind of riding and she got in a big huff and said, "Oh, there is just no talking to you!" She was right, there wasn't.  :-))

I am not in the slightest surprised at the way things have progressed over the years. It just took awhile to reach this point. And whenever money enters into an amateur, "for fun" sport, trouble is not far behind.

It's too bad, because the camaraderie with the riders from other countries was so much fun...Canadians, Australians, and others. And AERC riders from all over the country!

I guess I'm just way behind the times...

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: stephanie teeter

To: ridecamp Alexandria

Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 5:09 PM

Subject: Re: [RC] FEI entry fees

I don't know what Ft Howes entries were, but the Fandango was $150 for just AERC, $275 for AERC/FEI for the 100 mile (CEI***) entry. I was able to pay the bills, but only because there was a good turnout (for Idaho) since everybody needed to qualify their horses according to the new rules. 

It's incredibly expensive to host FEI rides - and to participate in USEF and FEI events. Between the expense and the hassle and the flat-ish courses that the riders need/want...it just isn't anything that interests me anymore.  I'm even finding it hard to drum up the interest in reporting on the big races.  They are dominated by big money players over-seas and between the horse sales, trainers, owners, prize monies and sponsors it feels more like the flat track racing industry than the sport of endurance. It's not so bad here in the USA and probably never will be - at least I hope not!

Steph

On Nov 10, 2009, at 5:42 PM, sbolinge@xxxxxxx wrote:

How much were the entry fees for the Ft Howes ride??