AERC International - July Newsletter

["Steph Teeter" <step@fsr.com>]

By Pamela Burton, PSaintjohn@aol.com


	By way of introduction….I want to tell you that getting involved with AERC
International, going to the World Competition in Dubai, interviewing the
competitors, and subsequently writing this column have been such a fun
learning curve for me.  What a wonderful way to gain knowledge about the
sport I love.  More exciting things coming up!


Endurance Training Session
   	The site was Lightfoot Stables in San Jose, California where three-time
Gold Medalist Becky Hart rides and trains. Riders invited by USET were
either on the USET Long List or the long list for this year’s Pan American
Endurance Championship, with USET covering most of the expenses.
	Fourteen riders from the West Coast assembled for the three-day clinic.
Just to prove there is no such thing as too much knowledge, Ona Lawrence
drove 12 hours from Oregon with RAA  Crusader, who competed successfully in
Dubai in December at the WEC.  The clinic was comprised of a stellar group
of riders who will be representing the U.S. in the next few years at
International Competitions.
        Those who shared knowledge were some of the best in their field.
Mary Fenton offered expertise in the art of Centered Riding, promoting body
awareness, balance and movement. Mary has been Dressage and Centered Riding
instructor to Becky Hart and Rio since 1989.
 	Nancy Elliot D.V.M., who also was an invited clinician, gave a
presentation on Traveling Tips for the Competition Horse, which covered
hauling for long distances and tips on conditioning and feeding after the
trip, pre and post-ride.
	Other topics covered were saddle fit, shoeing, dental and chiropractic.
  One of the bonuses from such an intense small clinic such as this is the
exchange of ideas between riders, and the freedom to ask questions from
experts in a working environment.
	Comments from first-time attendees were extremely positive.  Conrad Briggs
from Placerville thought the clinic was well worth coming…I learned a lot,
he said.  Brian Reeves, who lives not far from the site in San Jose, said
loved it…way beyond cool”.

	These training sessions were developed through the USET Active Competitors
committee.  Mary Lutz, Head of Endurance for USET states  clinic information
will be adjusted as needed, to include current and timely competitive
information in an ongoing effort to make this a top-notch learning event.
This was the first of several such seminars to be offered around the
country.  Look for news of a mid-west and an east-coast clinic to be held in
the Fall.

Compiegne, France, June 5, 1999.

 Nancy Elliot and Tony Benedetti represented the U.S. on leased horses for
this  80 mile (130km) pre-ride on the course that will be used for the 100
mile (160 km) WEC August 2000.

	The most fun at the moment for me is translating the news from our French
Correspondent, Georges Chauvin.…I will include some French words for those
of you who are practicing and want to know what’s happening.  Georges  tells
me that the course has (sans aucune difficulté importante)  no large
difficulty. The site is 70 kms. North and a little East of Paris.  The
horses will be stabled at the beautiful racetrack at Compiègne.
 The track (piste) is soft and runs primarily through the forest with a few
small hills and a small portion of macadem.  Georges believed that the track
should be no huge challenge to the experienced rider (cavalier).  (At this
point I must interject that Georges was quite impressed with the Tevis
Course when he rode it)
  There were 4 loops to the race: première (first) = 40 km; deuxième
(second) = 35 km, troisième (third) = 35 km; quatrième (fourth = 20 km).
	There are around 100 riders expected.  The countries of the UAE, England,
Belgium, Switzerland, German,  the U.S. and Jordan have all accepted their
invitations to compete.  A first hand report follows here from Lori Stewart
on her return from the race.
A jet-lagged Lori Stewart files this account:
  The USET sponsored reconnaissance trip to the WEC 2000 dry-run on June 5th
in Compiègne, France, was very productive.  Compiègne (pronounced com-p-n)
is old world charming and picturesque. For the most part, the people are
helpful but speak no English.
	The ride, itself, was well organized with very strict veterinary controls
used, especially for lameness.  The weather was rainy and cool.  The trail
was as advertised; essentially flat,  and densely wooded, with an excellent
sandy loam surface. The occasional hills were short, quick and moderately
steep. U. S. riders were Nancy Elliot, DVM ( WEC Team Vet), Tony Benedetti
 WEC Assistant Chef d’Equipe), and Valerie Kanavy.   Valerie was riding a
horse that she would deliver to Belguim after the ride. Lameness eliminated
Tony’s horse at about 45 mile and Valeries’s horse at the finish-82 miles.
Only Nancy Elliot completed.  The ride was won by a French woman, Maya-Killa
Perringergard in 7 hours.
	The official pre-ride is scheduled for May, 2000 on a similar course with
an additional 30 km of wooded trail to be added.  Humidity WILL be an issue
at this time of year.  Mary Lutz, USET Endurance Director; Rick Stewart,
Chef d’Equipe; Tony Benedetti, Assistant CDE; Nancy Elliot DVM, USA Team
Vet; and Lori Stewart, AERC International Secretary collected a wealth of
detailed information to help our riders and support team begin to prepare
VERY early for the WEC 2000.  All of us are at your service.  Thank you
Lori.





 Pan American Championship (PAC) Update

	Ride Information…The 99 PAC  100  mile race (160 km) will have a ride time
of 18:30;  21 hours with holds.  There will be 4 vet checks at 39 km - 40
minutes, 75 km - 40 minutes, 106 km - 50 minutes, and 145 km - 20 minutes.
The pulse criteria is 60 pulse and it must be reached within 30 minutes.
Minimum  weight required is 75 kg.  All horses must enter the venue by 10
a.m. August 5th, 1999 and remain there until the end of the event on August
9th, 1999.   Competitors can arrive at the ridesite any time previous to the
event and have total access to the trails to condition.  There is a
$10/night camping fee previous to August 5th.  Camping for the horses
entered and their rigs is included from August 5th to the 8th but all others
are $10/night.  Feed for the horses will be available from August 2nd at a
reasonable cost.  Feed will be supplied from August 5 - 8th.  The feed is
commercial sweet-feed and either grass hay or alfalfa/grass hay.  All other
feed will be supplied by competitors.
	The stabling will be beside the rider s rig in rigid corrals.  Each entry
will be allotted a space of 40 x 60 feet in which to set up their rig and
their corrals.  The team vet and chef d equipe may camp in this enclosed
stabling area with their team but no extra space will be allotted.  There
will be rigid steel corral panels for rent but Ride Management would
appreciate it if competitors could supply their own.  The stabling lots will
be assigned by random draw with all teams being stabled together.  The lots
will be ready on August 2nd. If competitors arrive earlier they will have to
move into the designated stabling area at that time.  There will be a
separate camping area for all other support personnel.  No dogs will be
allowed in the enclosed camping area where the horses are stabled but they
will be allowed in the separate camping area.  Camping will be again
$10/night
(Canadian) in the support personnel area.  There are no services except
washrooms in this area.  There is a fully serviced camping area 6 miles to
the west of the ridesite at Spruce Woods Park.  It is recommended that you
reserve sites if going to this campground at (toll free) 1-888-482-267.  If
you need hotel information, ask your chef d equipe or email Myna Cryderman
at mcryderman@techplus.com.
	So far horses have requested entries to the race from Argentina, Chile,
Brazil, Uruguay, Sweden, Denmark, the U.A.E. and U.S.  Many countries would
like to attend, but need to lease horses.  Myna has a list of available
horse to lease.  If you would like to add a horse to this list, or know of
someone who would like to lease a horse, contact Myna at the above email, or
Phone: 204-534-2390; fax: 204-534-2257; Mail: Box 657  Boissevain, Manitoba,
Canada  ROK  OEO.  Additional information regarding the site and the ride
can be seen on the endurance website at www.endurance.net/manitoba/

	For Your Information FYI

The different  AERC zones are having raffles, selling T-Shirts,  and popcorn
among other things as Fundraisers to help pay the fees for the teams
representing the U.S. at the Pan Am Endurance Campionships in  Canada in
August.  Please support these whenever you can.

	If going to Canada…remember that the exchange rate is in the U.S. favor
with the U.S. $1.00 = $1.50 Canadian.  Most Canadians will take your U.S.
money, but it will be more cost efficient to exchange money at a bank or
exchange center, as they will generally give a better exchange rate.


Your $10.00 membership to AERC International helps support the U.S. in
International team events.  You can compete or travel with friends to
International venues while you learn.  If you would like to join in the
fun…compete or crew, contact the AERC headquarters…and thanks.

If you have items of interest for the International Column, please email
Pamela Burton at PSaintjohn@aol.com.
Phone 925-229-9960, Fax:  925-229-9961.  Looking forward!



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