Needless to say, I was shocked to find 44 messages in my box today! I know
we don't need another message on fees here, but I can't keep quiet.
I am not a member of the AERC as I mostly compete in CTRs and a couple of
endurance rides a year (none this year however). My Morgan is registered
in the Morgan Horse Assn's Competition program (distance, showing,
performance) for his lifetime for only thirty dollars and my membership in
the AMHA is only 30 dollars a year. The local distance program (which is
superb!) is only 10 dollars a year per horse.
The problem for me is the IAHA which is 51 dollars a year to be a member
(for my Arab's miles to count). All these little things add up. I have
not joined the AERC, even though I have been distance riding for 10 years
now. I have seen very little that the AERC does to benefit the sport on a
local level to warrant paying that kind of money, especially with ride fees
as high as they are. For the same reasons, I am not a member of the USCTA
or ASHA even though my Morgan and I compete in several shows/events a year.
It is cheaper and easier to just pay the non-member fee. If AERC
increases the non-member fee, I will merely concentrate on CTRs until such
a point arises that the AERC provides better ads, benefits, etc or I get
tired of CTRs (not likely to happen until I make a bit more money).
Sorry to be so long-winded, I wonder how the Morgan's manage to be so much
cheaper.
Shannon Loomis and Quail Meadow Star