endurance philosophy

["Mike and Laurie Hilyard" <PFmorabs@toast.net>]

I've been a member of AERC for 10 years, but between full time jobs, grad school, a marriage and a baby, I have had low mileages.  I kind of feel like an inside outsider, or an outside insider.  IMHO, when I first joined, AERC was having growing pains because it was going from board-meetings-in-Julie-Suhr's-living-room (sorry for using your name in vain, Julie!) to a more structured format, with places to lodge complaints, and committee members making decisions for and about people they had never met.  AERC survived that first real growth pang by raising membership rates, actively seeking limited corporate sponsorship, and accepting that they (the board) was going to have to administrate an organization that had expanded beyond California.  At that time, International riding was seemingly within everyone's grasp - all it took was the ability and time to condition for that level.  Chances were, your competition was also juggling "outside" work and the decision between specialized horse shoes and braces for the kid's teeth. 

 

To me, we are seeing the difference between NCAA and NBA participation as someone (Jim?  Bob?  Truman?) has already pointed out.  We haven't yet gone for the intermural games, a third level of competition  - our backyard rides still count for national points.  When we do (as I fully expect) those of us on the intermural level will be one step further away from caring what the FEI rules are.  From where I sit (not on my horses back often enough), I would just as soon that AERC not spend their hard won sponsorship dollars on such a select few riders.  AERC has about 6000 members.  Are even 60 of those consistently competing on the international level?  Let's be generous and say 5%, or 300, are.  How much of our sponsorship dollars are they worth?  Endurance is NOT a spectator sport.    Do you think the average team penner who trail rides a few times a year and might be convinced to give endurance or LD a try even knew there was a race in UAE last week?  Is AERC simply a training ground for international competitors, or is it an organization for those without international aspirations?