As many of you probably know, the First Annual Cosequin (sp?) Challenge
Endurance race is scheduled for Memorial Day in Ft. Valley, Va. It is
offering $30,000 in cash prizes (non-sweepstakes prizes), which apparently
is legal under AERC rules as long as there is an AERC steward present.
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?
I would love to hear some discussion of this issue, which I personally
think is a crucial one to our sport.
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---This has always been a provocative topic.
I think the use of cash or big $ prizes for awards will enhance the perception of endurance horses as expendable merchandise. I think this type of value system will totally wreck the character of our sport.
Currently, there are a few races that offer substantial prizes. However, given the large field of entrants in these races, and the fact that there are only a few such races spread all over us US, the pay-offs are certainly much less than the potential earnings of horse sports like track racing for instance. Thus, IMO, if there are people who do go to these races specifically for the $, they must be total idiots because the potential for $ return on in this endeavor just is not there.
Indirectly, there are lots of pay-offs for winning these high $ races such as name recognition, breeder recognition, etc. This can lead to good $ though promotion of training, lessons, horse sales, products etc., just like in any other sport or endeavor. I think this is a good outcome because these people are not out to use their horse as an expendable item. Otherwise, they would loose in the long run in their promotional scheme, when their public realizes they treat their horses as expendable.
I really don't think that $ prizes are necessary to draw a top pool of entrants to a prestigious ride. I think that a pre-qualifying system, or a tradition of excellence is all that is needed to get high quality riders/horses to a ride. I think the MAJORITY of the competitors out there are out to prove something to themselves, not to everyone else. They want to say-- "I competed with the best and I did well". If perchance fame was a by-product of the endeavor, then great.
What do the rest of you think? I'm I reading the culture of our sport correctly or, am I totally naive?
Linda Van Ceylon lvanceylon@vines.colostate.edu