Fw: Rider Education

["Susan Garlinghouse" <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

Below is a response I received from Steve Rutter, which I'm forwarding with his permission.  His DAL statement specifically mentioned rider education, and my question to him was how did he specifically hope to implement that.  I've edited it slightly---just removed a few personal chitchats, none of the relevant material.

 

Several other nominees have also mentioned rider education, perhaps they would care to comment on their own views as well (obviously, rider education is near and dear to my heart)<g>.

 

Susan G

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Stephen W. Rutter

To: Susan Garlinghouse

Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 7:43 AM

Subject: Rider Education

Hi Susan,

 

<snip, snip>

 

One of the primary functions of AERC is education. It has to be to justify our being a nonprofit, tax exempt organization and more importantly, we need AERC's educational efforts for the higher purpose of the safety and welfare of the horse.

 

Yes, I do have some specific ideas on accomplishing better education:

 

         I feel the Education Committee needs to be charged by the Board with advancing an active,                 written program of rider education, both to accomplish it and to emphasize education's importance         within AERC. 

 

        Endurance News could carry many more articles on myriad topics of interest to the                             riders which would benefit the members' use of and caring for the horse. For example, we                     subscribe to The Horse and enjoy and benefit from the excellent articles found there. Why not have         abbreviated articles on such topics in our magazine? Too many riders follow the approach of                mimicking what they have seen done by others with no knowledge of whether or not it is                     appropriate for their horse or situation.

 

        Another ripe area for rider education is the Ride itself. I would like to see the culture develop at             Rides where the ride managers and veterinarians are comfortable counseling riders that are                 pushing the limits of their horse on any given day. I know that the Veterinary Committee is making         efforts to improve the uniformity of vetting and I feel charging the ride vets with this educational             function as well would be beneficial to all. Some vets do this now quite well so I know it helps.

 

In summary, I guess you could say my heart lies with preserving this sport by nudging AERC in the direction of better knowledge of and care for the horse in long distance riding.I interpret "TO FINISH IS TO WIN"  means the horse-rider team that completes the course the "best for them" that day rather than who can complete the distance in the fastest time. Our horses are our friends and pets, not among our tools, to be used and discarded.

 

Again, I applaud your efforts in this education process.

 

Steve Rutter