> In 2003 if you exclude the non-AERC members from the count, a little
over half (like 51%) of the 100 mile starts were AERC Int members.
I think you're insinuating that only AERC Int. members are interested in
100's. I think it means only 100 milers are interested in AERC Int.
Actually I'm not insinuating anything. That's just what the numbers
say. For it to make much sence of it one would have to look at the
earlier years, say 96 through 99 when before the requirement of FEI
sanctioned rides to ride in championship rides.
I don't think > the > membership in AERC Int has grown at the same
rate as the overall
AERC > membership.
I think people have installed a fear of 100's in beginners. We've spent
so much time putting the fear of God in them that we've convinced them
they've got to buy a horse with the perfect lines, raise him on 100 acres
running free, walk him for the first 2 years, Start him on Adequan in
utero, hook him up to heart monitors, thermometers, GPS's, & cell phones.
Have a custom fitted $2500.00 saddle which is re-fitted every 6 months
(at the same time he gets his $100 dental checkup, chiropractic
adjustment etc. etc. etc. I don't know if those of us who have already
done them are just trying to scare everyone else off to make ourselves
feel like we're something or what. I see people posting their training
schedule for a 25 that's tougher than many 100 mile competitiors I
know...and they're terrified their horse won't be ready.
One of the problems seems to be the "chicken and egg" problem. Today
the 100's seem to be evolving into big events. Back when I started
there were a lot of 100's that weren't big events. Would I have done my
first 100 if I had to do it at an FEI sanctioned -with all the window
dressing that goes with that - Biltmore? I just don't know. We need the
rides we have lost, the Longleafs, the Alabama 100, etc. to provide
riders options other then what we have today.
As far a scaring them to death - I'm not sure that is the case, but of
course back when I did my first all you needed to do was give 'em some
hay at the checks, maybe a little grain and make sure they got a squirt
of the "Ridgeway mix," and off you go. Interesting fact - the pull
rates back then seem to be less than today.
Truman
-- "It is necessary to be noble, and yet take humility as a basis
"It
is necessary to be noble, and yet
take humility as a basis.
It is necessary
to be exalted, and yet take modesty as a foundation."
