Re: RC: FEI Endurance

[Teddy Lancaster <Teddy@runningbear.com>]

> <<  Endurance is now the fastest growing Equestrian Sport.
>  This is bringing many challanges.We cannot afford the luxury of
>  putting our head in the sand and wishing for the "old days". Those are gone,
>  we now have a sport where people are professional, horses have become
> valuable
>  and prizemeney is becoming significant. This cannot be reversed.
>  The FEI want a strong USA participation in International Endurance, we want
>  your help in continuing to grow and develop the sport. But FEI Endurance is
>  just that "FEI Endurance" and we have rules that cover the whole world, if
> you want to
>  participate with us you are more than welcome, if not we will be sorry but
> the development
>  will continue with or without you. >>
>
> This is what I see, too. Should the sport become an Olympic sport, the change
> will accelerate dramatically. It is not logical to expect otherwise. But
> then, logic isn't a strong point of this group.
>
> ti
>

From my viewpoint over the last ten years, endurance as we know it in
the USA is NOT the same as FEI endurance. Apples and Oranges...some like
apples, some like oranges.  Both have merits and both are favored by one
group or another.

IMO. IF USA wishes to stay in FEI endurance, we will HAVE to change our
way of thinking for FEI competitions. We suffered badly in France, not
for lack of horses and riders, but for lack of leadership and
management. Europe and most of the rest of the world have been riding to
FEI standards far longer than we have.  Their experience paid off.

The lambasting of FEI is unwarranted.  It, too, is growing...and
sometimes in directions we do not agree with.  Our standards are NOT the
same as the rest of the world.  If we want to see changes, we have to
set the example. We are no longer doing so. So, if we can't beat 'em, we
gotta join 'em....IF we want to stay competitive and have a significant
voice.

My vote is for Valerie Kanavy for our next Chef d'Equipe. Who else in
the USA has the experience AND the respect?

2002 is our next goal.....we have time to make changes HERE.  Let's
start NOW!!!


--
Teddy Lancaster

Finally back from France, but not fully
functional until after Labor Day.

================================================
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;
Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

-- Winston Churchill
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