AERC NC AND FEI

[Enduroride@aol.com]

I am the ride manger for the 2001 NC ride this year to be held in Kentucky. 
The vets were already chosen long before we even thought it would be FEI - so 
for all the ones who think Jerry and Larry could be in "conflict of 
interest," THEY are NOT paying for the vets. (actually the riders will be 
paying out of the ride fees). It just so happened that we had 3 vets that we 
did not even realized were FEI official vets. Dane Fraizer is our head vet 
and we have 8 other vets from around the country coming. We made no changes 
here to make this an FEI event and were already prepared to pay them 
ourselves and still will.
Steph asked at a meeting if it could also be an FEI ride. I did not want it 
to cost the riders who wanted to enter that portion of it or did not want it 
to cost the management. (But had no problem if they wanted it FEI other than 
cost) So we had Larry and Jerry graciously volunteer to support this part of 
the ride. It will cost around $4,500.00 to get all the officials, lodge and 
feed them for the 4 days. That is what they are paying for, and only that. 
These officials are FEI and are on our own AERC Board. Mike Tomlinson,  
Maggie Price and Susan Kasemeyer, I believe these officials can satisfy all 
requirements. 
As to the question of AERC or FEI, you must first be qualified and entered in 
the NC ride before you can even decide to ride the FEI part of it and you are 
still entered in the championship ride. (We do this type of cross entering 
every time we enter a championship IAHA ride.) IF you desire to ride FEI you 
will be required to carry the minimum of 154 pounds but you will ride in the 
weight division in which you qualified in. (You are not allowed to change 
weight divisions at this time of the year any way according to AERC.)
This is one of the few rides you will be able to have the chance to ride FEI 
and not have it cost you a lot more money. Most FEI rides cost $50.00 to 
$100.00 more per rider to cover all the extra cost but we had 2 of our board 
members willing to pay the FEI ride fees for anyone who would like to try an 
FEI ride. The AERC National Championship will be getting all the applause, 
the FEI entries will be noted by saying that they were also entered in the 
FEI part of the ride.
I hope everyone will plan on coming to the ride but no one needs to enter the 
FEI part if they don't want to, but it will be there for anyone who wishes to 
try it. 
If you have any questions about the ride please feel free to ask, my e-mail 
is Enduroride@aol.com  Thanks, Connie Caudill