ridecamp@endurance.net: Phil Gardner

Phil Gardner

Marinera@aol.com
Sat, 26 Apr 1997 19:33:59 -0400 (EDT)

Since Phil Gardner does not contribute to our list very often, it might be
interesting to some of the newer endurance enthusiasts to know that it was
Phil in the early 70's who looked at the various rides (probably about
seven or eight) )going on around the country and thought the horse could use
a little protection and that we needed a uniform set.of rules. And so he
gathered in Auburn, California (Tevis Cup Country) a group of five or six
people and together they pounded out a simple organization governed by only
five simple rules. To be sanctioned by the newly formed American Endurance
Ride Conference you must agree to the following:
1. The first horse to finish (in the least amount of time ) in acceptable
condition is the winner.
2. There shall be an award for the best conditioned horse.
3. There can be no minimum time limit.
4. The ride (horses) must be controlled by veterinarians
5. Everyone finishing a ride shall receive a completion award.

That was it! And in our naivete we actually thought that covered every
possible contingency. We were a happy enthusiastic group with Phil as our
first president and we undertook to spread the word of this incredibly
exciting sport. No one had ever heard of electrolytes, fanny packs,
gatorade, heart monitors or any of the other hundreds of items that have made
our lives as endurance riders in the 90's easier. And we grew and saw the
necessity of more rules, and we grew some more and added more rules until
Phil's fledging American Endurance Ride Conference now has a twenty-two man
board, sixteen active hard working committees and a budget in the thousands
of dollars. It is the internationally recognized body representing endurance
riding in the United States and every country that now recognizes endurance
riding has based their rules on those five simple rules that Phil and his
buddies formed that first night they met in 1972. Those of us who were in it
from the beginning now swing down the trail with a generation of riders that
were not born when our Conference was born. We attend conventions and watch
those who have risen to the top accept their awards if they can tear
themselves away from a fabulous trade show. We go home with a list of about
500 hundred rides nationally from which to choose. We can read any or all of
a number of "how to" books. We have watched the first simple criteria of
"fit to continue" determined by pulse, respiration and soundness to now
include hydration, capillary refill, mucous membrane and cardiac recovery
index checks. We have watched required pulse recovery which in the 1970s was
usually 70bpm drop to 60bpm.
And we are able to participate in the ridecamp forum with an active and
healthy exchange of ideas. At the convention this year, Phil, you walked
quietly through
the trade show and I wonder what thoughts went through your head on the 25th
Anniversary of "your" conference. We have come a long way and we have a long
way to go. Thanks, Phil, for starting us out in the right direction.
Julie Suhr

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