Subject: Apprenticeship

["Solis, Suzanne (LGE-AT)" <ssolis@lg.com>]

Hello Ridecamp!

Just can'nt seem to lay off this keyboard lately.
I started endurance about 6 years ago by hooking up with an experienced
rider in the Southeast by the name of Ann Cofield.
I am sure many of you know her.
Anyway on the subject of Apprenticeship I thought that I would just
mention that Ann puts on several clinics each year, donating her
personal time, and energy to this endeavor.

There are many new members to this sport and it is very hard sometimes
to tell if the idea is a flat out Horse race or not.
There seems to be a lot of emphasis placed on finish placings and
awards, I would like to see more emphasis placed on long term
accomplisments of the horse/rider team, even in the limited distance
arena.
Would we lose most of the membership of AERC if you had to wait until
you and your horse had 1000 miles or more of competition before you
recieved any recognition?

When AERC was formed did'nt they frown on extravagent awards for this
very reason?
 
There are endurance members who do happen to have a different horse
every season, after all horses are relatively cheap. 
I am not advocating anything I am just describing what I have observed. 
I myself had to retire my first endurance prospect due to DJD, and now
my second endurance horse I don'nt believe has the stable mentality for
endurance so I am looking for another one.

By the way, how many rides can the average experienced endurance rider
make in 1 year, or
does anyone know what the average yearly mileage is for a top endurance
athlete?