Questioning MONEY $$$$

VTCI@aol.com
Wed, 11 Dec 1996 11:17:25 -0500

The IAHA sweepstakes program has been in place for eight years.
Through this program a horse that is considered sweepstakes can compete at a
number of IAHA competitive events, as well as IAHA endurance events held in
conjunction with AERC events.
These competitors recieve $1,000 and $5,000 for first place finishes in
regional and national IAHA championship events such as the "backyard" AERC
ride held in SC a few weekends back in which the region 12 IAHA championships
were represented.
23 IAHA sweepstakes qualified competitors competed at this AERC event and
raced side by side with the non-IAHA competitors. This also occured at the
ROC this past summer where the National championships occured.
My question is, for what purpose does AERC allow the sweepstakes program to
exist at its' rides knowing that money will change hands among the top IAHA
competitors and the sweepstakes program.
What is the difference in persons competing for IAHA money at AERC events and
our offering of cash purses at our AERC event other than the fact that those
competing for IAHA money had to;
A. Either hunt down a sweepstakes qualified horse, buy it, train it, compete
on it.
B. Pay a large fee in the thousands of dollars to sweepstakes their own
horse.

Those entering our event merely pay an entry fee, which while not established
yet will not be as much as ROC or some other high priced events.

It seems to me that the only "evil" we are guilty of is in providing the same
level of recognition for accomplishment to the masses rather than the select
few fortunate enough to either own a sweepstakes horse, or those that possess
the means to provide for sweepstaking their own horse. I would further remind
all of us that there is no prerequisite to participate in the sweepstakes
program other than having a horse nominated and paid for in the program.
There is no experience qualification of horse or rider to be deemed
"Sweepstakes" qualified. I know, I sweepstaked my horse because the rates
were reduced in 96 and it was only $1,500 vs $3,000 and I am by NO MEANS an
experienced competitor and indeed competed in the 100 mile IAHA event in SC a
few weekends ago JUST FOR FUN. There was no way I was going to compete
against the likes of Valerie, Danielle or Wendy Mattingly on my little horse,
not yet at least.

What I'm really after here is responses offering opinions as to why the
money offered to top ten at the Cosequin Challenge is really different than
the money offered via IAHA sweepstakes at the ROC this past year other than
the fact we have elected to reward MORE riders by providing the entire top
ten with cash prizes instead of the upper few such as IAHA does currently.

Also, what do you think the purpose of the IAHA sweepstakes program is. What
is it promoting, why do they offer cash incentives to place well and what is
the rewarded money, ideologically speaking, supposed to be used for by the
recipient if indeed anything at all.

Just Wondering.....
Feel free to E-mail privately in confidence to VTCI@aol.com
Tracy