RE: RE: Nomination of Mike Tomlinson DVM for Director-at-Large

["C. Mike Tomlinson" <CMikeT@MCIWorld.com>]

Dear Kathy and Ridecamp readers:

-----Original Message-----
From: 	Kathy Mayeda [mailto:kathy_mayeda@atce.com]
Sent:	Monday, September 25, 2000 8:38 PM
To:	C. Mike Tomlinson; Ridecamp (E-mail)
Subject:	RC:  RE: Nomination of Mike Tomlinson DVM for
Director-at-Large

I have the following questions:

In your position with AHSA, what kind of influence do you think
you will have on FEI policies with regards to sanctioning?  Do you
perceive this as part of your new role with AHSA?

My position with the AHSA is over all International Equestrian disciplines,
not just endurance.  I do work closely with the FEI on all of their
policies.  I am not on the FEI Endurance Committee and therefore do not have
any FEI Policy making powers over FEI endurance.  All interaction with FEI
for all disciplines is part of my new role with the AHSA.

What kind of issue do you think that would become potential conflict
of interests between AHSA and AERC?

Any agreements between the two organizations; Any motion that mentions AHSA
(e.g. a motion to donate money to the AHSA); etc.
While these have been infrequent in the past and I expect will remain rare
in the upcoming term, I do want to inform everyone up front of my
involvement with the AHSA.

Do you believe that FEI sanctioning costs would be the prohibiting
factor for most ride managers to sanction their events with FEI?

The cost has been the prohibitive factor in the past.  The cost has been
continuously decreasing over the past few years as the FEI understands
better our difficulties.  For example, the rule that at least one Vet and
one Judge needs to be from a foreign country has just been clarified for the
US and Canada that it means from a foreign zone (e.g. a vet from Missouri is
foreign enough for a ride in Virginia).  This alone will save US/Canadian
FEI rides hundreds of dollars in plane fares.

Do you have some thoughts about how to increase the number of
FEI sanctioned rides in the U.S. so that international competition
would become more feasible for the talented rider without mega-
moneybags?

I am working on many different ways to decrease the cost of the events and
to open up the higher levels of the sport to those who have the talent and
the drive but not the money.

Or is it a possibility that FEI could reverse their ruling and
recognize certain AERC events to be FEI qualifiers without
FEI sanctioning?  What is your knowledge about the decision
making process at FEI?

It is highly unlikely that they will change their ruling on this.
I have been involved with the decision making process at the FEI for the
past 15 years in an ever increasing level.

You have probably noticed that on Ridecamp there was a some
emotion floating around regarding sanctioning, but I don't think
that we are very informed about the subject.  Do you foresee
yourself as a "pathfinder" and showing AERC the way through
all the FEI policies and keeping us, the average AERC member,
informed?  What will be your method of disseminating such
information?

I would concur with your "pathfinder" descriptor.
I have always felt that an informed member is a good member.  Though it may
not always seem like it and despite some with personal agendas, the vast
majority of those involved at this level of the sport do so with the greater
good of the sport at heart and are working as hard as they can to make
things better for the average rider.  I would like to make this fact more
obvious to all the membership.
The venues open to me are Ridecamp, Endurance News, Horse Show magazine, and
direct email and phone calls.

K.

Sincerely,
     Mike


Dr. C. Mike Tomlinson
Director, International Programs
American Horse Shows Association, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Direct: (859)225-6911
Recept: (859)258-2472
OfcFax: (859)231-6662
Mike@Tomlinson.com