Here are some other "factors" that might come into
play...
The $$$ cost of the ride. I am guessing, but
the average cost of a 50 mile ride in the SE is around 80-100 (including
"additional fees like camping and a meal for the rider in some cases).
Cost of the NC including camping / meals and any fees that had to be
paid ????
As mentioned before, location. While there
are a few riders that have no problem traveling great distances to do rides,
there are probably more that are not willing to trailer their horses
past some time-frame / distance due to the cost, including both fuel and the
cost of missed work.
What's in it for those who are truly qualified, but
do not have the competitive drive to push their horses hard enough to "win" in
the level of competition that would be expected? Is being able to
say "I rode in the 2006 AERC National Championship" enough to justify the
total cost of ride?
Suggestions that might help mitigate the
above:
Have AERC provide more than the current $7000
"grant" to the NC ride to reduce the entry fee to a reasonable amount, or find a
creative way to fund the event. Such as, have a
voluntary "donation" on "normal" rides of say a
$1 or $2 that gets passed straight to the office for the NC Fund, or maybe a
"pay as you go (installment plan)" nomination fee that allows that horse
(assuming they are otherwise qualified) to enter any NC ride for
life.
Find a "somewhat" central permanent location and
date (LBL comes to mind).
Have the ride run with / by true "Volunteer" help,
and if there is a profit made, then AERC gets the $$'s.
Raise the qualifications, set a minimum age (of the
horse) as part of the qualifications.
Award "double" mileage-points for those "who also
ran".
Again these are just my thoughts and
suggestions...
Eric Rueter Rueter Consulting, Inc. Eric@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 865.988.4134(W) 865.599.3594(C) 865.986.5966(H)
There are folks that drive East to West and very
few come from West to East, Now's the time to get some good
communication on how to get the AERC NC's to be something people would really
put on a "Have To Do" list. Is it something simple like giving the
Overall First to Finish a Trailer or something tangible, while giving all the
other weight division 'Winners" a Jacket? What is it? Too many
winners?
My question for the day is what does it take to
make the AERC NC's the Premier Ride and have National Participation it
deserves?
Its gonna be a Race and here's my question to
you the AERC Membership??...Where are all you Western, Mountain and
Central people (Besides Daroly and CeCi) Maybe someone sliped by but
this is a mostly regional race, it not truly National, is it? Food
for your thought..
