Buddy - I'm certain that the FEI doesn't care about AERC - but USEF does, and the AERC riders who aspire to ride Internationally certainly do - and they have no other options but to ride joint FEI/AERC rides. Without the AERC structure- and the dual sanctioned rides - they wouldn't have the means to qualify themselves or their horses. I believe that there is transparency in the joint sanctioned rides - most rides have an AERC entry fee, and then add the FEI fee on top of it. The Git R Done ride is a special case. I don't believe there is a 'rule' that FEI rides (under the USEF umbrella) have to also be AERC, unless something has changed in the past year or so. But in order to appease AERC (historically) it has been a policy that has never been countered.
Also - the FEI riders have been keeping the 100 mile ride entries high for AERC for the past few years. Most of the large 100's (Tevis a notable exception) have a considerable FEI entry level.
There's a big push in the US right now on the part of USEF (US Equestrian Federation - the international liason to the FEI), since the WEG is being held here in Kentucky. Time will tell if the program will continue gaining (or holding) strength past the 2010 WEG. But for now it's a big push.
I think it's all working pretty well - as long as ride managers are willing to sanction FEI. It's too pricey for me now - and too much stress and hassle - and too little emphasis on technical trails which makes it pretty uninteresting. But I've hosted FEI rides for the past 8 years, and I do have a lot of respect for the riders that take on the commitment and discipline required to ride at this level. There is some impressive horsemanship out there-
Steph
On Nov 13, 2009, at 7:09 PM, Buddy Gleason wrote:
Endurance News Magazine, Nov 09, on page 16 lists the 2010 FEI ride schedule.... Now delete all AERC entries to these rides... Does anyone believe AERC Ride Managers would have the $$$$$$ to just put on a FEI ride??? And then, to say that the FEI does not care about AERC and how we do our sport, that there is adequate financing out there from other sources and they do not need our money>>>>>or opinions. Well that may be true. So.. Then...Perhaps FEI Endurance should not be associated with AERC Endurance...And we all still have to use the same trails to accomplish goal... To finish is to win.. FEI or AERC..The expense of competing at AERC sponsored rides to qualify for FEI recognition only raises the entry fees for AERC competitors. And they may have no interest in FEI... So, then, ride managers should make the difference in entry fees and be held accountable that there be no conflict of interest... And show complete transparency. Buddy
