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Thanks for the Dance
by =
Chuck Gray
I have always said, "As long as I could make a difference in
AERC International, I would stay and help the cause." I believe the time=
has come to stand aside and make room for new people with fresh ideas.
The years I have spent as a member of the International committee and
its chairman have been enjoyable, rewarding and a learning experience. I=
have had the opportunity to work with committees that formed the foundati=
on
and helped international competition grow and become recognized all over
the world. From the early days when everyone had to pay their own way to=
our current relationship with USET, it has been an exciting road. Along
the
way I have met some dedicated people: riders, FEI officials,
veterinarians, and support people who have spent their own time and money=
to travel to competitions to help support their TEAM.
I have worked with a number of AERC presidents who have stood with
the International Committee as we addressed concerns raised by the Board
of Directors. It has been rewarding to see the changes in the Board
of Directors=92 perception of International. While I know that we will n=
ever
have 100% of everyone=92s support, the backing we have gained has =
been wonderful. The goal of International will always be to further
endurance riding in general and represent the USA in the manner befitting=
this great country.
Just as other people, I have concerns about the future of
International competition. While I am a strong believer that change is
good, we need to temper the speed at which these changes are implemented.=
=
Rule changes need to better the sport, not just deal with current
situations. Another concern involves the level of representation for the=
USA. We have
more than just a small stake in this sport, and we need representation
that clearly presents our ideas and our decisions to the FEI. I sincerel=
y
hope that we will not let the years of work to build a TEAM of
organizations (AERC, USET, and AHSA) go to waste. We must continue to sta=
nd
firm in our beliefs concerning competition.
Finally, I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank the
following special people who have helped and supported me over the years.=
They are: Maggie Price, Louise Reidel, Pete Fields, Tony Benedetti, Mike
Tomlinson, Rick and Lori Stewart, Andy Bender, Crocket Dumas, and Debbie
Lyons. To all of these special people, along with all the committee
members past and present, the Board of Directors of AERC, Dr. Robert
Beecher, and the Veterinary Committee, and the AERC Office staff- THANK
YOU FOR THE MOMENTS OF MAGIC. It has been a great time, one that I will
cherish forever.
Zone News
The Pacific South Team announced its squad just days after our
editorial deadline for the September Endurance News. At this time we wou=
ld
like to congratulate and recognize the riders and staff who were selected=
to represent and work on behalf of the Pacific South Zone. They are:
The Squad (in alphabetical order):
Heather Bergantz- Los Gatos , Ca HBC Tyler Too
Kristen Berntsen- San Jose, CA WS Callisto =
Gary Ceragioli- Markleeville, CA Desert Rose=92s Raz
Shirley Delsart- Kensington, CA KJ Destination
Jack Enderle - Los Gatos, CA Fad Silver
Barbara Sanches - Bradley, CA Calculator VA +/
Alternates (alphabetical order):
Wendy Lumbert- Mt. Aukum, CA Whip
Valorie Weizer - Sunnyvale, CA Copper
Special thanks to our Pacific South Selection Committee: Kathy
Campbell, Chair; Debbie Lyon, Jamie Kerr DVM, and Nancy Elliot DVM. Best
wishes for great success go to Chef d=92Equipe, Teresa Cross and Team Vet=
,
Susan McCartney DVM.
Pan American Championship
August 15th Update
Mike Foss DVM
The following teams and zones indicated by the August 15th deadline, the=
y
are bringing the following numbers of horses. This list includes their
alternates. Canada plans to have all their alternates ride as is allowed =
by
FEI for the World Cup Qualification. This should make 64 starters:
Brazil 4, Denmark 3, Canada East 10, Canada West 9, =
Germany 1, Australia =
2, USA Pacific North 15, USA Pacific South 8, USA Mountain =
7,
USA Central =
7, USA East 7.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The AERC International Committee is accepting nominations to the
USET Endurance Discipline Committee. Nominations close November 15th and=
should be submitted to the AERC International Committee Chair. By Dec
15th, the five recommended names shall be submitted to the USET.
Nominations for the AERC International Committee are being accepted by
the AERC Office until October 31st. You must reside in the Zone for whic=
h
you are nominating. Elected members will serve two year terms.
1998 World Endurance Championship News
The 1998 World Equestrian Games in Ireland have been canceled for funding=
and political reasons. FEI is working to move the 1998 WEG to Rome, Ital=
y
or Aachen,Germany. The UAE has also made a bid for the World
Championships for Endurance for 1998. It looks like Rome probably has th=
e
edge, and if it wins the venue, the 1998 WEG will probably be in the Fall=
=2E
UPDATE: The FEI announced August 30th that Rome, Italy won the bid to
host the 1998 World Equestrian Games. The dates to be from the end of
September thru October 11th. The FEI awarded the United Arab Emerites th=
e
bid to host the 1998 World Endurance Championships. Date to be announced=
=2E =
There will not be an endurance ride in conjunction with the World
Equestrian Games. The FEI=92s decision to break off the Endurance
Championship from the other disciplines was based in part on the UAE=92s
promise to provide more funding for the endurance event and more publicit=
y
via world wide television coverage.
=
AHSA/USET NEWS
August 22, 1997 Press Release
AHSA AND USET EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OUTLINE
OPERATING AGREEMENT REACHED BY THEIR ORGANIZATIONS
Kate Jackson, Executive Director of the American Horse Shows
Association (AHSA), and Robert C. Standish, Executive Director of the
United States Equestrian Team (USET), announced today the highlights of a=
n
historic operating agreement reached by the AHSA, the National Governing
Body for equestrian sport in the United States, and the USET, which
selects, funds and fields equestrian teams for major international
competitions, the
World Equestrian Games, the Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games.
Ms. Jackson said, "The AHSA and the USET have lived together for almo=
st
50 years, since the USET took over from the U.S. Cavalry the responsibili=
ty
for funding teams in major international competitions. Until now, we had
not defined our roles in writing and, on occasion, this led to
misunderstandings of the roles of our two organizations, diverting
time and resources from our primary goal of advancing equestrian sport. =
Now, with this agreement, there is no doubt as to our working relationshi=
p.
We have achieved a cooperative partnership without duplication of effort=
=2E"
Mr. Standish said, "Perhaps most importantly, we have satisfied the
most often-heard request of our athletes, and that is what they call
one-stop shopping for entering an international event. Now, if an athlet=
e
has a question, they'll be able to call someone at the Team's
headquarters."
The terms of the agreement were reached August 1 by AHSA President Al=
an
F. Balch and USET President Dorothy A. Matz, after meetings of their
respective organizations' Executive Committees. Staff members of AHSA an=
d
USET, including Ms. Jackson, Mr. Standish, Wendy Wares-Cooke, and James
Wolf, negotiated the terms of the agreement.
Ms. Jackson and Mr. Standish said that the highlights of the
agreement include: =
* The AHSA's International Department will staff an athlete services unit=
at the USET's headquarters in Gladstone, NJ, to streamline communications=
and logistics for participants in international events, including the
invitation and entry process.
* Additional active athletes and USET Trustees will participate on
AHSA Hearing Committee panels for athlete grievances and dispute
resolution, and a joint working group has been named to improve the proce=
ss
further.
* The process of selecting athletes for major international
competitions, including the World Equestrian Games, the Pan American Game=
s,
and the Olympic Games, has been streamlined and improved. =
* The USET has a more direct line of communication with the United
States Olympic Committee and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI=
).
* Active athletes will have direct representation on a joint
AHSA/USET Credentials Committee, which reviews qualifications of athletes=
for international competition.
* The USET and AHSA each will name directors to the other's Board
of Directors.
"This is a win-win situation for both the AHSA and USET," AHSA President
Balch said. "I want to again thank USET Board Chairman Finn Caspersen,
USET President D.D. Matz, and the staffs of both the USET and the AHSA fo=
r
their hard work in reaching this agreement. In addition, the informal
United States Olympic Committee mediation process, directed by USOC Vice
President Paul George at the request of USOC President William Hybl, was
invaluable."
USET President Matz said, "I am very happy that the USET and the AHSA=
were able to reach this agreement that not only serves both organizations=
well, but also is in the best interest of the sport. We entered these
discussions because of the concerns raised by our athletes and the staff =
at
the USET. This new agreement addresses many of those concerns."
The United States Equestrian Team selects, trains, equips and
finances equestrian teams of the highest possible caliber to represent th=
e
United States of America in Olympic and Pan American Games competitions,
World Championships and other major international competitions.
The American Horse Shows Association, as the national
equestrian federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic=
and World Championship equestrian sports-combined driving, dressage,
endurance, show jumping, three-day eventing, and vaulting-and 18 other
breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country's large=
st
multi-breed equestrian organization, the AHSA has 66,000 members and
recognizes more than 2,600 competitions nationwide each year. It governs=
all aspects of competition and, through such programs as the annual AHSA
Equestrian Sports Summit Conference, works to promote equestrian sports i=
n
the U.S. =
=
E-mail from: R. K. and L.D. Stewart, 10-Sep-1997
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