Re: [RC] [AERCMembersForum] Thank You From the AHA National Distance Commission - Eric Rueter
We spent three days trying to remember all the
people who helped along the way. We knew we would forget someone.
Monica I am sorry to have missed thanking you, you were there the entire week
and helped in the vet check areas when you were not riding. We also had a
very nice diner conversation on one of the nights. Again my /
our apologies.
Subject: Re: [AERCMembersForum] Thank You
From the AHA National Distance Commission
You are most welcome.. I had a great time.
I hate to say you forgot someone, but unfortunately you missed
Monica Chapman, our Central Region AERC Director who was there all week, and
who Volunteered as much as the rest of us.
Her assistance was greatly appreciated and her presence as an AERC
Director meant a great deal!
Plus, I had fun riding with her on Tuesday's LD... even if she did beat
me for the Turtle award! Lucie Hess
Columbia, Missouri NATRC
Region 6 AERC # 65 AERC Central Region OCER member
From the perspective
of the AHA Distance Nationals Commissioners -
Most of the paperwork is done. We
are all home, basically unpacked and a little rested. It is now time to
reflect on what was accomplished last week at Lake Carl Blackwell (LCB),
Stillwater, OK.
With tremendous help from the crew
at Lake Carl Blackwell, Anne McFarland, Louise Burton, Brenda Wyant and Lisa
Gallery, LCB was turned into a fair course from one, which was very suspect
when we first started this adventure.
We also had "on-site" some of the
hardest working volunteers that I have ever seen. Our hats are off to
Carla Jo Bass, Lucie Hess, Mo Miller, Randy and Joannie Bass, Tony Troyer,
Jane Huff and all the others who I did not have time to meet who worked very
hard being timers, vet scribes, pulse takers and providing very delicious
food! We could not have made this ride successful without the assistance
of these VOLUNTEERS, most of who made the trip and stayed the entire week -
just to help!!
We should not forget our sponsors
and vendors! Included in the list of sponsors and vendors are Distance
Depot, Running Bear Tack, Stable Gear, Adequan, ABC (Advanced Biological
Concepts) Products, Cowboy Magic, Detail Pet Portraits, Equine Monitors,
Arabian Horse Distance Riding Association, Stillwater Convention and Visitor's
Bureau, AHA Region 3, AHA Region 8, AHA Region 9, AHA Region 12, AHA Region
14,Tezmaral Arabians, Fisher Marketing Services, Annetta Tinsman, and Region 6
Youth Association. They provide more than just sponsorship, they
are part of our Distance Family, and it's always good to see them
around. Next time you visit one of these sponsors, thank them for being
there!
Thank yous are also in order for
those brave few who decided to take the trip to Tulsa on Saturday and be part
of the opening ceremonies for the U.S. Nationals final session. Always
nervous when someone mentions flag, horse and crowd in the same sentence, we
were thrilled as all three horses performed their duties just like the fine
animals that they are. Just as awesome was the video shot at LCB during
the first part of the week. More than 8 hours of video condensed into
just 3-5 minutes, but it will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck!
What was accomplished at the AHA
Distance Nationals? First and foremost, we brought both distance
disciplines together at one venue during the same time frame and there were no
fistfights. While we did not witness any "hippy-type free-love" going
on, we are pretty sure that everyone got along just fine, and nobody felt
slighted. Of particular note is the fact that one rider rode in all 3
AHA events, several riders rode in two AHA events and one rider was the AHA
National Champion in both the 100 mile endurance and the CTR event.
Secondly, AHA stood up and managed it's own ride(s), and finally stated; yes
Distance is just as important to AHA as Youth, Sporthorse and the US National
Shows. Thirdly, it was evident from the participation, that this concept
*is* viable. There were horses and riders from Canada, California,
Vermont, North Carolina, and Texas - essentially from all across America (and
Canada). And this participation following the recent WEG trials in
Kentucky, just a couple of weeks earlier. So, the AHA Distance Nationals
were a success!
Could we have done things that would have made it a bigger success?
Absolutely! Will we make adjustments for next year, we have a long list
and it is growing. Do we want to hear from everyone - whether you
attended or not - with ideas on how to improve the event - again
absolutely! Either catch us at the AHA National Convention in Reno (we
will not be hard to find, just look for the people with the big grins on their
faces), or drop us an eMAIL (DistComm@ArabianHor
ses.org). We will be listening - it's one of the best ways to
learn.
