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Re: [RC] WEC 2008 - Truman PrevattDiane Trefethen wrote:Teddy Lancaster (Running Bear) has some great bumper stickers. At one time she had one that said, "If it is not a race- why is there first place." Racing is part of endurance - it always has been. In the AERC it is not, however, the only part. What this is proposing is to change our sport in reaction to how it is practiced at the international championship level. I contend that is the absolute wrong approach. The approach should be to insulate the AERC from a potential backlash if it ever happens because of how the long distance horse racing that is international championship endurance is perceived. I think the AERC has a start on doing this but I don't think we are there yet. We need to educate as many people as we can about the sport. We need to get serious about equine welfare - even if it means imposing sanctions for horses that are injured or die because of a ride. Another words - if we police ourselves adequately we can fend off any effort to be policed by outside - particularly the Government. I don't think we need the same oversight as required in Australia - however, if it is perceived that we are incapable of policing and regulating ourselves - it will probably eventually come. While "a letter from the horse welfare committee" is a start I don't think there is any way that will convince someone who feels endurance needs regulated that we are up to the task of regulating ourselves. We're on the way - but I don't think we are there yet. I think we will eventually get there. The last thing we should do is change how our sport is run (after all a big part of endurance is the race part and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that) because of how championship international endurance racing is practiced. That is their problem to solve - not ours. Truman -- “Ethical axioms are found and tested not very differently from the axioms of science. Truth is what stands the test of experience.” Albert Einstein =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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