This very interesting,
because a few years back, the idea of a log book was repugnant to many endurance
riders. One reason was that the book follows the horse, and should someone
offer a horse for sale, his entire record was there for all to see. Good
for the prospective buyer, bad for the seller, perhaps.
As for the BOD being secretive
about information, I was on the board for 21 years and I don't remember
anyone being secretive. I think it must be more a matter of the difficulty
in distributing the information. And lack of it forthcoming from the riders.
Before this year, it was the head vet who filled out the records of horses
treated, now it's the riders themselves. I think I received 3 records from
the riders of Swanton Pacific this year. I forwarded them on the AERC office.
Perhaps other riders submitted theirs directly to the office, but 3 out
of the 11 who were pulled is a rather small percentage.
I'm not sure why some
members feel the BOD was always up to something to the detriment of the
membership. I certainly don't remember our being devious. I DO remember
spending long hours weighing decisions that we THOUGHT were to the betterment
of the sport. I suppose it is fairly typical that when things aren't going
the way the membership (or public) wants, they blame the governing bodies.
Does anyone wonder why there are so few who actually are willing to run
for office? Or why there is such a small percentage who vote? I guess
I'm defending my 21 years on the board and the amount of time, energy, and
concern I gave to them. It's rather nice to be off the BOD; I spend more
time riding and less time fretting.
Barbara McCrary
