Re: Comments by Donna Snyder-Smith

["Robert Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>]

Donna you posted;
>>>I am so tired of riders whose attitudes toward the limited distance
> is, "I walked in snow up to my a__ for my
> mileage/buckle/shirt/mug/cap/sponge awards and if you haven't done the
> same, you're not *really* an endurance rider.  So stop trying to grow
> our exclusive club.  If you succeed in 'diluting' our sport we real
> endurance riders might not appear so special.">>>

and then;
>>> "We can't continue to let these pretend eventing riders get
> acknowledged for their pitiful accomplishments at pre-training!  They
> shouldn't get any recognition until they prove how tough they are by
> riding at the Intermediate level!">>>

Donna You have answered your own argument!!! The AERC recognizes the
"pre-training level" of endurance riding by calling it "Limited Distance
Riding". Dressage calls it "Training Level" as compared to "Grand Prix". 

If you cannot be content with Limited Distance Rides, what do you want to
call them. "Pre-Endurance Level Competition"??? As a Board Member you must
be aware that "Endurance Riding is defined as an athletic event in which
the same equine and rider cover a specified course of not less than 50
miles ...within a maximum time limit ..." (AERC By-laws Article V Section
1.) 

Is it your desire to change the By-laws to accommodate the LD under the
nomenclature of Endurance?? Please advise the By-law change wording,
Perhaps something like ;""Endurance Riding is defined as an athletic event
in which the same equine and rider cover a specified course with
Pre-endurance Level being distances up to 20 miles, Endurance Training
Level being distances from 21 miles to 49 miles, True endurance Level 50
miles to 99 miles and Super Endurance Level 100 miles and over ...within a
maximum time limit for each class of competition.""

If we try hard enough we can, perhaps, fit in  a lead line class as well. 

As for me, if there are to be changes to the By-laws to accommodate
different levels, I will be a strong advocate for "Senior Riders" with
special consideration to riders over 65 on a graduated scale with
increasing age!!! 

Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID

----------
> From: Robin Everett <robin_everett@yahoo.com>
> To: ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: Comments by Donna Snyder-Smith
> Date: Saturday, June 06, 1998 1:17 AM
> 
> 
> I am posting the following comments verbatum from Donna Snyder-Smith:
> 
> I am so tired of riders whose attitudes toward the limited distance
> is, "I walked in snow up to my a__ for my
> mileage/buckle/shirt/mug/cap/sponge awards and if you haven't done the
> same, you're not *really* an endurance rider.  So stop trying to grow
> our exclusive club.  If you succeed in 'diluting' our sport we real
> endurance riders might not appear so special."
> 
> Thank God not all of the "old timers" feel that way.  Thank God, many
> of them are more than willing to support friends and family,
> encouraging them to enjoy the beauty of the trail, the great feelings
> a good horse and rider partnership have to offer and the wonderful
> friendships which can develop when such things are shared (whether
> they are shared for 25, 50, or 100 miles).  Unfortunately for AERC,
> some of these "exclusive club" minded folks talk loud and long.  While
> these birds may wear a variety of feathers, their shrill cries are
> easily recognized because they all have a common note in their songs,
> it is a "fear" cry of "change."  Of course, while they say "change"
> their tone clearly implies they really mean "ruin," so those of you
> who feel differently are going to have to take time to make your
> voices heard STRONGLY AND IN NUMBERS.
> 
> In the end a more positive stream of consciousness and the evolution
> which is bound to happen in any successful
> organization/discipline/sport will prevail, but probably not before
> these "dooms day" voices manage to turn off any number of interested,
> open hearted, just want to play at the level my job, time, health,
> family, financial limitations allows, riders.  But what the heck, who
> wants more members in an exclusive club anyway, right?
> 
> I wonder what it would be like to eavesdrop on a conversation between
> George Morris and Michael Matz, two of today's biggest names in Grand
> Prix Jumping.  Does anyone believe it would sound like this?
> 
> "You know, if we let the backyard riders call their horses 'jumpers,'
> we're liable to lose our identity."
> 
> "I know just what you mean, after all, how could anyone think their
> horse was a jumper if all they do is jump two foot fences?  Everyone
> knows a horse right out of pasture can jump three feet!"
> 
> No?  then how about medal winning dressage riders Robert Dover and
> Reiner Klimke.
> 
> "Isn't it ridiculous that the dressage organization recognizes
> training level?  It's so demeaning for the public to associate us big
> Grand Prix stars with any old rider just because they can enter their
> horse in a training level test where all they have to do is walk, trot
> and canter."
> 
> "Yes, and it's ridiculous that they expect to get ribbons for such
> undemanding riding too."
> 
> Maybe not?  Well, surely in the barns at the Rolex 3 Day Event in
> Kentucky, you would hear USCTA President Denny Emerson and USET rider
> David O'Commor complaining.
> 
> "We can't continue to let these pretend eventing riders get
> acknowledged for their pitiful accomplishments at pre-training!  They
> shouldn't get any recognition until they prove how tough they are by
> riding at the Intermediate level!"
> 
> "You're right, next thing you know, people will be galloping twenty
> feet, jumping one fence and calling themselves event riders!"
> 
> With humble apologies to the great riders whose names I have borrowed
> in the above fiction, really folks, try widening your perspective,
> we're only one discipline in a vast array of competitive venues. 
> Consider that endurance riding might just be big enough, grand enough,
> and challenging enough to allow lots of people to participate at a
> variety of levels, while remaining true to its underlying concepts. 
> In short, get off it and get on with it, you can't run the playground
> forever.
> 
> Donna Snyder-Smith - competition experienced, Tevis buckle holder,
> multi-discipline award winning rider, instructor, author, coach,
> trainer and AERC Director (the above comments express a personal
> opinion.
> 
> OK, folks - this is Robin.  If anyone wants to direct any comments to
> Donna, please feel free to address them to me, and I will get them to
> her by hand, fax, or snail mail!
> 
> 
> 
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