<<<Qualification criteria is limited to horses. I am requesting a minimum
of 500 lifetime miles of which two hundred must be one day 100's.>>>
I believe that the qualification criteria a bit on the light side with only
two 100 mile rides required, but it is better than what follows!!!
<<<To encourage foreign participation and assure an availability of leased
horses, I would like to exempt off-continent riders on leased horses from
the qualification criteria, however, unqualified horses are ineligible for
top ten placing.>>>
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND AN INSULT
Why should a ride have two levels of competition, qualified and unqualified.
It is an insult to any unqualified horse entered as we all know from recent
experience the riders on these horses will be out for, if nothing else,
HONOR AND GLORY!!! (also known as the big ego)
I address this to ALL Directors, Please remember it is the membership in
general that voted for you NOT the USET, FEI or any one else.
I for one have seen this same plateau approached by other seemingly "pure"
sports. They all approached it in a similar manner and the money went "under
the table". Things got real dirty and then it was brought out in the open
(came out of the closet) and now these same sports get on very well, the
monies are accepted, the "experts" win it and everyone is happy.
Let us look very strongly at the many possibilities the infusion of money
into our "simple sport" can mean. Let's use racing terms to make it easy.
Our BOD should willingly accept any race with a purse and give it proper
sanctioning, BUT A PERCENTAGE OF THE PURSE GOES DIRECTLY TO AERC (like 10%)
for administrative costs.
But people please remember, no ride is REQUIRED to get sanctioning. The
riders are the ones that require the sanctioning so they can get their
points and mileage recorded. (a form of payoff)
It is you the riders that could benefit from the money rides if you give
your BOD the proper directions.
Bob Morris
Morris Endurance enterprises
Boise, ID