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On the issue of AERC involvement with International Endurance, I think 
Truman is dead on.

One of the fundamental issues that must be addressed is that of 
responsibility.  We can all appreciate how unfair it is to set up a 
project, place someone in charge, deny that person any authority to 
allocate resources or exercise any control, and then if the project fails, 
blame that person.  Yet that is precisely the position AERC is in today 
with respect to Int'l Endurance.  We have virtually no say, no control over 
the direction in which that activity is moving but if an Olympic Endurance 
event provides the people of the world, USA included, with the horrific 
images of vets desperately trying to save horses' lives, not only animal 
rights groups but every person who loves horses will rally against our 
"cruel and inhumane" sport.  Despite AERC having no control over 
USET/FEI/Dubai, the members of AERC will be the ones to pay the penalty 
when the government closes us down as perpetrators of unspeakable cruelty.

If you don't think so, look how the politicians have handled the horse 
slaughter issue.  Inhumane treatment of animals destined for slaughter is 
wrong.  But instead of addressing the FACTS of cruel treatment, the 
politicos pandered to EMOTIONAL appeals.  Read the act... it is replete 
with stuff about how wonderful the horse is and how he has been a loyal 
companion in the taming of our great country.  That is all emotion.  And 
that same emotion will be inflamed 10 fold if there are multiple deaths, 
live and in color in every living room across the United States, courtesy 
of a new Olympic Endurance event.  Do you think for one minute horse lovers 
in the US won't clamor for an end to this inhumane treatment of our beloved 
fellow travelers through history?  You better dang well believe they will.

In short, we'll lose it all.  And it won't do a bit of good for us to say, 
"But WE don't operate that way.  WE take care of our horses.  WE don't 
sacrifice their health and well-being to win just one big race."  THE 
PEOPLE will have seen what "Endurance" REALLY is with their own eyes.  We 
won't have a prayer.

The writing is already on the wall.  AERC is an international eunuch.  No 
power, no sway, no influence.  OUR sport is NOT what is being promoted by 
FEI as "Endurance".  The name Endurance was chosen because horses and 
riders were expected to endure the trail, endure the weather and prevail. 
The only enduring spending 7 hours on a race track entails is enduring 
boredom, as Maryanne pointed out.  And I do hope you noticed her warning 
about the numerous horses that were injured or died.

As Truman said, FEI "Endurance" is now viable and since they have chosen to 
pursue a racing model instead of an enduring model, it is time for us to 
say a not so fond goodbye and divorce ourselves entirely from their 
endeavors.  The argument that we can do a better job fighting for real 
Endurance if we are on the inside does not apply here.  We started 
Endurance.  We WERE the movers and shakers.  But money and influence have 
so completely altered the objectives of the FEI version of the sport that 
there is no hope of getting it back.  Staying in will NOT allow us to 
change anything... it will only cement in the public's mind, when the 
debacle comes, that WE are a vital part of the process and condone it by 
our presence.

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