Proposal from Donna Snyder-Smith

[Robin Everett <robin_everett@yahoo.com>]

Donna Snyder-Smith has asked me to post the following article on
Ridecamp.  Any comments can be forwarded to me.  I will print them and
fax them to Donna.

From Donna Snyder-Smith:

Levels of competition and the growth of AERC

It is an accepted economic principal that a company must grow to
survive.  So too must endurance riding if *it* is to survive.  Think
not?  Consider the issue of trail preservation.  Politically and
economically, dealing with governmental bodies in charge of critical
decisions boils down to a "numbers" game.  Want to exert pressure to
get a trail closure reconsidered?  You'll have little hope of success
with the curent membership numbers of AERC.  You would stand a much
better chance if you were a part of the United States Dressage
Federation with a membership roster of over 40,000.

The American Horse Council has determined by independent survey that
over 90 percent of people who own and ride horses, regardless of breed
or discipline, also trail ride.  This figure is somewhere in the
neighborhood of 5 million with a financial impact on the U.S. economy
of 112.1 BILLION dollars.  Consider this information in the following
light:  everyone of those trail riders are potential occasional AERC
ride participants and possible future members IF endurance riding
offers an understandable, user friendly format.

To discover the best way of making endurance riding an inviting place
for horse owning trail riders to spend their disposable time and
money, we need only follow the example of either the United States
Dressage Foundation or the United States Combined Training
Association.  From small membership roles in the early sixties, both
organizations have grown into substantial, economically sound
entities.  Rider skills have also grown with organization membership. 
Early on, there were only a handful of riders in this country who
could ride either a Grand Prix dressage test or the  advanced level of
a three day event.  Today we have won medals at the Olympic games in
both disciplines.  This change has happened in less than 30 years. 
One could argue the point that the history and statistics of both the
USDF and USCTA show that increasing the number of rider and supporter
participants at lower levels produces increased competitive numbers at
the top most levels of sport.

What else do these organizations have in common?
A) They offer a variety of competitive levels, from entry level tests
at dressage shows which do not even require a horse to canter to
advanced level competitions and international team opportunities.
B) The levels are structured to make it easy for competitors to move
up as experience and skills are accumulated.
C) They offer national, regional and event awards equally across the
entire spectrum of available competitive levels.
D) All rider/competitors are respected equally by their organizations.
 This is demonstrated by the "title" these organizations accord their
members.  If you compete in a three day event, you are an "eventer,"
whether you ride in a novice class which requires you to jump fences
which do not exceed two feet, six inches and canter around a course of
less than three miles or compete over jumps which look like small
houses, at a dead run over twenty miles.  You are considered a
dressage rider when you ride a novice test which doesn't even require
the horse to demonstrate canter, or you perform the elegant and
difficult Grand Prix movements of the Olympic tests.

If AERC members want:
     Increased membership roles.
     A financially stable organization.
     Increased media exposure.
     Increased sponsorship possibilities.
     Increased political voice in establishing new trails and
preserving old ones.
     Increased number of both local and high profile competitions.
     More funding for research projects which affect the endurance
horse.

it is recommended they follow the example set by the above mentioned
organizations and look to the future by expanding the competitive
opportunities offered by AERC.

The attached list is a suggestion for competitive endurance levels
based on similar levels in the successful USDF and USCTA organizations
and disciplines.  Any and all competitive divisions offered must be
sanctioned by and conducted under AERC rules.  A ride organizr would
be allowed to offer any division(s) of competition which they felt
comfortable conducting so long as any division offered was conducted
under AERC rules.  Riders would be allowed to elevate at least one
division (training level and above) at all events in which it is
possible to do so.

AMERICAN ENDURANCE RIDE CONFERENCE
      COMPETITION DIVISIONS

            Novice
      0 to 20 miles in one day
(no points, milage, membership penalty fees)

         Training Level
      25 to 30 miles in one day
(year end awards, milage, membership fees)

        Limited Distance
      35 to 45 miles in one day
(year end awards, milage, membership fees)

          Preliminary
      50 to 65 miles in one day
(year end awards, milage, membership fees)

          Intermediate
      70 to 95 miles in one day
(year end awards, milage, membership fees)

            Advanced
     100 miles or more in one day
(year end awards, milage, membership fees)
 



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