When the first FEI ride took place along with Swanton
Pacific in 1986, I thought international riding was going to be such fun.
Shortly thereafter, the FEI rules and regulations became stricter. Then the
races became stranger...that is, flat track racing on the desert on a groomed
trail with support vehicles driving alongside and spraying horses with water.
This is when I started to lose interest in a big way. I was scolded by a foreign
delegate I knew personally for not supporting her idea that AERC should adopt
FEI rules and conduct our rides by them. I told her our AERC members didn't want
that kind of riding and she got in a big huff and said, "Oh, there is just no
talking to you!" She was right, there wasn't. :-))
I am not in the slightest surprised at the way things
have progressed over the years. It just took awhile to reach this point. And
whenever money enters into an amateur, "for fun" sport, trouble is not far
behind.
It's too bad, because the camaraderie with the riders
from other countries was so much fun...Canadians, Australians, and others. And
AERC riders from all over the country!
I don't know what Ft Howes entries were, but the Fandango was
$150 for just AERC, $275 for AERC/FEI for the 100 mile (CEI***) entry. I was
able to pay the bills, but only because there was a good turnout (for Idaho)
since everybody needed to qualify their horses according to the new
rules.
It's incredibly expensive to host FEI rides - and to participate in USEF
and FEI events. Between the expense and the hassle and the flat-ish courses
that the riders need/want...it just isn't anything that interests me anymore.
I'm even finding it hard to drum up the interest in reporting on the big
races. They are dominated by big money players over-seas and between the
horse sales, trainers, owners, prize monies and sponsors it feels more like
the flat track racing industry than the sport of endurance. It's not so bad
here in the USA and probably never will be - at least I hope not!
