I am not a huge NASCAR fan, so not an expert on
that sport. However, to the best of my knowledge, NASCAR is not supervised
by licensed, trained and empowered Veterinarians watching out for the welfare of
the cars. I could be wrong on this:) I would also not agree with the
idea that the main reason people show up to watch NACAR is the hope for seeing
blood and exploding cars. From talking to NASCAR friends of mine, it seems that
some people like watching a tactical event that takes longer than 30
seconds. They appreciate the strategy and skill involved in sustaining focus and
concentration over a long time and distance. They appreciate the bonding of a
human with another independent entity into one focused unit. Of course some may
think that this is nothing like Endurance Riding, so how could the same people
ever get interested in our sport? We must not be interesting to watch
because nobody has done it so far. If people really wanted to watch, wouldn't
they already line the trails along the Western States Trail by the
thousands? My thinking is to give people a reasonable opportunity to watch
a ride, and then they can decide if they want to do it again..
Endurance riding, for those who confuse it with
racing flaming cars into walls at 190 MPH, is a sport that has Vets with
absolute power and control over the welfare of the equines who participate.
Those vets, control the welfare of those equines at all rides, from 10 mile
fun rides to 100 mile rides through some of the roughest country on the
continent. For any proposed AERC ride, those Vets are going
to make the welfare of the equines involved the number one priority.
If a new ride is held on a one mile oval, or over the whole state of Kansas, the
Vets will be supervising it. If a rider overrides a horse, they will be
pulled. Pretty simple concept isn't it? So far it has proven to work
pretty well. I don't believe it has been shown that the length of the loops
in a ride have any direct connection to equine abuse.
The chances of equine abuse would actually be less
at my proposed one mile distance, 'cause there ain't no place to hide. All
horses would be in view of the Vets and anybody who cared to watch for the
entire ride. In addition, the equines would never be more than one half mile
from vet care. How many other rides could make that statement? Obviously
this is not a NASCAR type of danger to the equines. Now of course if you
think our vets at AERC rides aren't competent to do this job, and that
horses would get crashed into the walls at high speeds, that is a different
issue, and you need to take it up with AERC. Personally I think they do a
tremendous job of protecting the equines involved.
As for TV, my thinking is this is not likely to
ever become prime time network programming. Don't look for big dollar
advertisers to jump on board. However, TV, web casting and other electronic
media is a way to promote our sport. Promoting our sport isn't a bad thing.
I went to a ride last week in good weather that had 5 entries in the 50
mile distance and 10 in the 25 mile ride. Promoting the sport so we might have a
few more riders is a good thing. Don't worry, we will still stay pure and
poor:) It won't turn our rides into the Dubai Cup. Don't
worry about the half nekkid tattooed women showing up in hordes to be rider
groupies. It won't happen. Drunken kegger parties in camp before the ride
will be no more prevalent than they are now.
I appreciate all those who have taken the time to
post their opinions on this idea. If it goes any further, I will let you
know.
Paul N. Sidio
Piper ( hmmm... No rocks, or hills, or tree roots
grabbing me? Never more than 1/2 mile from snacks? That doesn't sound so
bad.)
Spokane MO
"If you approach things in life with the idea that
you will succeed or you approach those same things in life with the idea that
you will fail, you are likely to be right."
