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Re: [RC] Open European Championship 2007 : - Kathy MayedaDr. Nik, I think that your comments are pure and pro-US. I see your point. We have the resources. We are a big affluent nation. We don't pull together to field a winning team for USA.AERC's membership as a whole is more concerned with their corner of the tent and don't see the big tent encompassing being 100% behind our international riders. I pass no judgment here because I like my corner of the tent too (which sad to say is a few LDs on an aging unconditioned horse lately). I also think that AERC-International has not done a very good job of solicitating support from non-AERC-International riders. When I first joined AERC (not that many years ago compared to most people I know), I gave my few dollars extra membership for AERC-I. I did not get any "return on investment" on those few dollars at all. The group did not do anything to engage me in their efforts. It was run like an elitist camp, holding clinics that only International riders were privy to, and we weren't even told about it to audit. I know a few FEI riders, and they are by nature very focused on their goals, and rather individualistic. I don't think it's the riders fault that they are who they are, but I think that there should be more organizational focus to engage the non-FEI riders to support these riders. And this is not being done. Period. I have watched Heather Begantz Reynold train Red for Tevis, Pan Ams, and Presidents Cup. Tevis is probably the easiest for her to train on of the three, but may have the most challenging terrain! She never let the ride venue conditions be an excuse. She trained with blankets during our dry summer heat to simulate humid conditions. She sought advice to find flat sand to train on for the Presidents Cup. She has the focus. She needs more help from an organization -whether private or AERC, USEF, whatever... to achieve her goals. Which really can be translated to OUR goals should we want to win at the FEI level. I think that we had been so turned off about even wanting to compete against the oil sheikhs at their game. If we can lose that feeling and gather our resources, and get AERC-I to quit being so elitist, maybe we can do something. Dr. Nik - you are so astute in seeing where our holes are in the program. And I salute you for seeing this and explaining to us in all your honesty, because I think that you are spot on. K. ----- Original Message ----- From: "D'Arcy Demianoff-Thompson" <liberty4640@xxxxxxxxx> To: "Nik Isahak Abdullah" <drnikisahak@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 9:49 AM Subject: Re: [RC] Open European Championship 2007 : I am very confused with your posts. I am not sure whether to be encouraged or insulted. I have never had in MY MIND that the UAE could not be beaten. After a number of years in arabian racing - that is just not in my mind set. They are subject to the trials and tribulations as any other eventer. And there is no amount of money in the world that is going to tell me otherwise. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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