UAE & the sport of endurance riding/racing

["rightrider@cs.com" <Donna Snyder-Smith>]

Donna Snyder-Smith rightrider@cs.com
The Arabian is a special breed whose history goes back hundreds
(thousands?) of years, much of it in the countries of the UAE.
 They have the right to feel as though this breed is a horse of
their making (picture verbal pedigrees passed from generation to
generation and mares being such a prized possession that they
were kept in the tents with the family).  Now picture this tough,
intelligent, beautiful horse being imported into other countries
of the world and while many people think quite highly of them 
(evidenced the prices paid for some of the finer animals), the
competitive (think FEI) horse world virtually ignored them.  They
weren't suitable for jumping, eventing, or dressage (although
they can certainly do all of those things).  Then here comes a
discipline called endurance riding.  It starts in the US and 
gradually makes its way into the hearts and minds of people all
over the world AND it is looked upon so favorably by the world
equestrain governing body (FEI) that it is taken under its 
umbrella, AND guess what, the ARABIAN is the premiere horse of
choice for this new FEI discipline!  I can see where the Arab's 
sense of history and perhaps a generous measure of pride (not
unfounded in my opinion) would cause them to want to play a 
MAJOR role in this emerging world class sport.  Why not and 
wouldn't you if your great, great grandfather had spent his life
developing the breed?
     Ever since the UAE has shown an interest in endurance, their
plans seemed relatively clear, they want to dominate the sport
riding the descendents of the horse(s) their ancestors are
responsible for creating and they want the world to come and play
with them because its no fun to play alone.  With the recent event in Dubai,it seems they have succeeded in accomplishing a
big step toward their goals.  It was a race and perhaps that is/will be all they (UAE) will ever be interested in, but I think
not.  If not, what will be the next step?  
In thoroughbred racing there is
something known as the triple crown and to achieve it, is the
highest honor a race horse (and owner and trainer and jockey) can
attain.  100 miles over flat dessert sand is only one "type" of 
track.  It may be, like racing on turf, some will never want to 
enter their endurance horse on any other type of course.  But
the cream of the crop of competitive riders will rise to the 
challenge IF we (the sport of endurance) can unite and provide
that challenge.  What would it be?  Why to own/train/ride the
endurance triple crown winner; the horse who can win on a flat
track and also win on a mountainous course (the calibar of Tevis
and/or the Old Dominion).  What would the course for the "third
leg" of this triple crown challenge be?  Who knows?  We have
flat sand, we have rocky mountains, what about water? Marshes with heat?  My point is this, if the riders from the UAE only 
play on a single type of course (their own) no matter how good 
they get, they will not be recognized by the rest of the world
as superior horsemen, rather only as jockeys capable of winning
under very limited circumstances and call me crazy, I just don't
think they'll want to be that limited. So let's think "out of the box" on this one.  Let's recognize what the FEI saw about this
sport when it included it under its umbrella, that we have one
hell of a showcase for the horse, with roots which go all the
way back thru time and human history.  Disney couldn't ask for
better material and I truly wish everyone who participates in
this discipline could put aside their differences and "hop
aboard" as the train leaves the station, because folks, it is
going to go with you or without you.  Let's bring the world
back to our table because we set a banquet no one can resist. DSS