We can thank Becky Hart for putting endurance on the map in the U.S. with her
World Championship performance with Rio in Stockhom Sweden in 1990. That was
the year the AHSA put her on the cover of their magazine and named her
"Equestrian of the Year". In 1990 the endurance championship was held at a
World Equestrian Games along with the other FEI diciplines for the first time.
There was much notice given to endurance, and there were even some kind
comments toward the sport by Princess Ann of England!
International endurance rides (World Championships and North American
Championships) are sanctioned by the AHSA as the official U.S. representative
to the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale), the world sanctioning body
for international equine competitions and for World Equestrian Games.
I should also mention "The Chronicle of the Horse" also carries information
on endurance fairly regularly (the article in this month's EN is a reprint of
the most recent article) and we are given space in the "USET News" as official
members (since 1992) of the USET.
As for joining AHSA, I would strongly encourage it as they support us in (at
least some) of our competions. I didn't realize they don't give us the
discount as for other diciplines. I will look into that.
Rick Stewart
E-mail from: R. K. and L. D. Stewart, 18-Nov-1995