The breeders would like you to believe otherwise, but there are too many
good horses out there that don't cost an arm an a leg - e.g. Rio, Cash,
Desert Ballad. As long as there are these horses, then it will be hard to
demand the prices for breeding. Currently there is no limitation on
type/breed of horse like in TB racing, Arab racing, Standardbred racing.
This will help keep also the sprot open.
If there is not a "sugar daddy" supplying the money, then entries will have
to go up. If NutraMax doesn't get the return on it's investment, then they
won't sponsor many more rides. They want to make money, not sponsor rides.
It is unclear that the return will be there. The economics should balance
out this issue in the future.
> It would be interesting to know how you on this list feel about cash prizes
>for an AERC event? Do you think it would change the sport? For better or for
>worse? Do you think most people ride the big -name endurance races (like the
>ROC, for instance) for the prizes (as the organizers of this ride have been
>quoted as saying)? What about it?
> >>
There was a lot of money given away at the ROC - some was IAHA and some as
discounts on such things as trailers. I koow I didn't enter the ROC for
money. I also know there were a lot of other people who didn't. For me it
was a good excause to get out West and do some riding. We spent the summer
and did several rides - one being the ROC.
>Of course it will change the sport, the same way sports agents ahve changed
>pro sports. This will lead to the demise of AERC as we know it. Guaranteed. i
>am married to a collegiate coach of a major university. I have seen what $$
>can do to otherwise reasonable adults, let alone unreasonable folk with
>helpless animals at their "disposal". We are adamantly against this - what
>can be done?
>san
I think at this point the AERC should give long and hard condsideration as
to how it will handle these rides. In the best case, there will be
problems caused by people overriding their horses in order to get the
money. In the worse case the AERC will be defending its rules in the
courts becuase there is a lot of money a stake. Even worse, the state might
have to get involve "to insure a fair playing field". Just consider the law
suit of a couple years ago - and this was over a year end national award!
I also believe that these types of rides give the "anamial rights activist"
the angle they have been looking for to attack endurance riding. This
could also result in state involvment.
There are some options. The AERC might only sanction these rides if there
are two divisions - one sweepstakes (prize money) and one open (a regular
ride). The sweepstakes ride would be for AERC miles only (the current
policy for qualifier rides like the ROC) and would not count for any AERC
awards. I beleive that the AERC should distance itself as much as possible
from these types of rides while maintaining sufficient control to protect
the horse. The AERC needs to tread on these unchartered grounds carefully,
I am concerned that our dues will be going to pay for legal fees. The
computer system was bad enough.
Truman
Truman Prevatt
Sarasota, FL