Re: RC: RE: AERC & International & FEI

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/6/00 9:57:32 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
steph@endurance.net writes:

<< In my experience there is almost NO difference in riding under FEI rules
 and AERC rules. >>

Which illustrates a point that no one has really brought out here.  Over the 
past several years, AERC has had a GREAT deal of influence in helping to 
educate those in FEI who write the rules for endurance as to what is 
necessary to endurance.  People on SEVERAL continents that are involved in 
this sport are concerned about the same things that we are in AERC--first and 
foremost safety and care of the horses, followed by such things as a level 
playing field.  Much of the "structure" of FEI that is confusing to us here 
in the USA has to do with making things fair for multilingual competitors--a 
problem we really don't have to face in this country.  (Canada deals with it 
a bit.)  Such things as asking permission to converse with the vet, etc., are 
not to be restrictive, but to keep a rider without command of either French 
or English (the two "official" FEI languages) from being at a disadvantage to 
a rider who is fluent in one or both.  By having a structure in which there 
is a chef d'equipe and a team vet, one or both of these is, in effect, the 
interpreter between the vet and the rider.  With such a system, a country 
that does not use English or French as its native language can concentrate on 
sending its best RIDERS to the event, rather than having to focus on their 
linguistic skills--the team vet and/or chef d'equipe is the rider's advocate 
to the vet, and the vet can communicate back to the rider in that way.

The very fact that FEI works on a WORLD level simply throws some logistic 
kinks into the sport that we don't have to surmount in our regular in-country 
rides.  There is no great agenda at the FEI level that is contrary to what we 
are doing in AERC.  The two can AND SHOULD co-exist peacefully, each learning 
from the other--as indeed, FEI learns and takes input from each and every 
national federation.

I'd also add that AERC is not the only well-established national or 
continental endurance group in the world.  Australia has had endurance 
established for a LONG time and is WELL established.  Likewise New Zealand.  
ELDRIC is not exactly wet behind the ears, either.  FEI has to assure as 
level a playing field as possible, dealing with minor differences among ALL 
these groups.  And not a one of these is out trying to do anything different 
in concept than we are--they are trying to compete over distance and keep 
horses healthy while doing so.  Each has some different wrinkles that may 
seem odd or novel to us in the USA--but we can AND SHOULD all learn from each 
other.  World participation has done a great deal to add to the body 
knowledge in this country as well--not just by the "level" of competition 
(Lord knows we've had some of the best right here) but from the opportunity 
to rub elbows with more people who have approached the same problems from 
different angles.  Rather than either burying our heads in the sands or 
building a wall around ourselves or declaring that we are the "only" 
knowledgeable endurance riders in the world, we should be willing both to 
share our knowledge and resources and to learn from others willing to share 
theirs.  We need to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with those from 
other countries, striving to continually make our sport better--not only at 
the FEI level but at home as well.

Heidi