Ridecamp: Re: [RC] King of What?

Pat,

 

Amen!  I'm glad you said your reply bounced before I tried unsuccessfully to do the same thing.  That's what has always happened when I just hit "reply" instead of their email address (when they choose to include it).  Let's see if this one goes through...

 

If someone is so adamant about the message they are trying to convey, have enough nu...., er backbone to sign the damned thing -- with a real name! 

 

I agree -- I certainly won't cry if endurance never becomes a spectator sport.  That would just tickle the Hell out of me!  I've always like the fact I could take kids (my own or someone else's) to a ride because it's family-oriented, and I think this "racing" thing would detract from that.  There have been very few rides I've been to (as in: none!) or heard of where some damned fool was "racing" for a tee shirt or e'lyte syringe and ran their horse into the ground.  For one thing, someone would probably snatch them off their horse for that sort of nonsense!  One of the first things that attracted me to endurance is the fact that it's one of the few activities still left in the world where people utilize COMMON SENSE!  If people want to run for money don't let the gate hit them in the ass on their way out.  Unfortunately, the idiots won't be the ones being removed from the gene pool by natural selection -- their horses will, and they don't deserve that.  It may not happen at that particular race, but it will happen.  None of mine are expendible!

 

BTW -- when did the AERC "[lose] its position in the USA and the world for the top riders"?  What are you basing that on?  As for you stating "it is just a matter of time before another "entity" emerges in the USA to take over as the controlling organization of the sport of endurance racing" I've got a comment on that, too.  I hope to God that if there are enough "NASCAR-wannabes" (for want of a better term) to actually get out and race their horses like this, that whatever new organization is formed will have the decency to call itself something so far-removed from "endurance riding" and/or "AERC" that no one connects them to us.  That would be one helluva mess for us to have to clean up!  I, for one, would be pretty irritated by that and EVERYBODY would know I was unhappy!

 

I can foresee this creating all sorts of problems.   If this actually materializes and this other group winds up injuring horses with all this public attention they seem to crave for their sport, some of those "misguided" animal rights people (I won't call their organizations name but you know who I'm talking about) are going to start causing problems for the rest of us because we're "endangering" our horses.  Let me tell you this -- if that happens, it won't be my horse that's endangered!!!  You say, "[a]nd it ain't gonna be AERC I can promise you that!"  Well, I hope no one else thinks it will be AERC, either.  And I'll even sign this post will my real name and email address...

 

Milinda Ellis

Beargrass Cleveland Bays

Jewett, Texas USA!!!

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

From: superpat

To: Ridecamp

Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 11:20 PM

Subject: [RC] King of What?

(Just an aside:

When I tried to respond to "horsesofcourses" the poster of the "scary" message re AERC being doomed to obliteration for not lying down to be tromped on by whomever is referenced in this sentence " I think FEI is getting tired of the battle with the narrow focus of AERC" yada, yada, yada, my response was routed back to me as undeliverable to the "respond to" address).

 

Why am I responding? To whom am I responding?  Who the heck is horses
ofcourses????? Who the heck cares? This "scary" message has not put the
"fear of anyone's gods" in me and I hope not in other Ridecamp readers and
posters.
Yes! There is a difference between flat track racing and Endurance as it
still is ridden in this country. Vive la diferance (oh, my French is AWFUL
but Long live the difference). AERC is strong with integrity still intact.
In my book, the question is not about how many horses die running FEI or
AERC rides (or races). It is how the ride/race is run and the ultimate goals
of participation. And thank you, whomever you are, I don't need your cup of
coffee. I will take a swallow of goo as I ride down the trail on a happy,
sound, non-stressed horse who may never earn a penny in the game of
endurance but who will be running and playing this game for many years to
come.
Pat Super



----- Original Message -----
From: "Ridecamp Guest" <guest@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 10:31 PM
Subject: [RC] King of What???


> horsesofcourses horsesofcourses@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> AERC Is still King and will be for a long time??? The sport of endurance
RACING is what is heading to the olympics, and AERC has done everything it
can to make it clear it doesn't want to join.  And that is fine, I think
AERC should remain in place to serve the riders who want to continue to keep
the pasttime of endurance riding small and more of a backyard fun weekend.
Make no mistake about it,  AERC has lost its position in the USA and the
world for the top riders, it is just a matter of time before another
"entity" emerges in the USA to take over as the controlling organization of
the sport of endurance racing.  And it ain't gonna be AERC I can promise you
that!  Watch, and you shall see, one and then another top events will go
forward without AERC sanctioning.  How many horses died at FEI events last
year?  How many at AERC rides?  Collect the facts and you will see that your
fear that RACING will destroy the sport is quite the opposite, it has
actually brought  more fit horses to the trail, you can listen to the rumors
all you want about how fast they go, but go in person and see that these
horses are lookin' good at the finish, better than alot of the USA horses at
endurance "rides" I've been to. I think FEI is getting tired of the battle
with the narrow focus of AERC, so I'll buy everyone a cup of coffee this
time next year if we don't see the FEI go to another group to handle the FEI
endurance races and AERC will be left out, but apparently that is what all
ya'll want  right, for those "racers" to leave us alone?  Well, good
buddies, that is exactly what they are planning to do I am sure, but they
aren't going to leave the sport alone, just AERC.
>
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