RE: Unofficial WEG team

[Bernita & Jerry Barfield <barfield@primenet.com>]

Having 2 or 3 qualifying rides in a European country is much less of a logistics nightmare than it would be in the US.  How many good teams would be left out of competition because they could not afford the time or money to attend 2 or 3 competitions that required a 3,000 mile roundtrip.  I for one would not like to go back to the days when our team was largely made up of those that could find a way to afford it.  I'm not saying there are no improvements that can be made, but a system that works in Europe might not be the answer here.

Jerry Barfield  

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From: 	Carlos F. Crespo[SMTP:ccrespo@nigma.com]
Sent: 	Wednesday, October 14, 1998 12:11 PM
To: 	Ridecamp
Subject: 	Unofficial WEG team

Rick Stewart DVM  stated that:

<< I respectfully submit that you, sir, are commenting
on a subject you know nothing about>>

Certainly I would expect nothing less from the 
Chef d' Equip for the USA Equine Endurance 
Team than to come to the  blind defense of the 
process he is such an important part of.

I agree that I probably know little about the subject 
but I would ask,  Who does? Other than the few 
currently running the system. The entire selection
process is based on a subjective criteria 
dependent  on personal opinions and done in a 
totally secret and unaccountable basis. Why is it
that the opinion of each selector is not made public
as well as their voting record and the minutes of 
the selection meeting process?
So long as the process is carried out in the current 
fashion without full disclosure the only ones 
"knowledgeable"  of the subject are those running it . 
Furthermore, the lack of disclosure limits  the 
"education" of the rest of the membership and 
perpetuates a status quo regardless of its suitability 
or acceptability by the membership.

The main argument I hear from you and other selectors 
is that  "there is no best way to select for a team" . 
I submit to you and everyone else to consider the fact
that if there is no best way to select a team then we at 
least choose a way that is the most 
FAIR  TO ALL COMPETITORS.    If we are to err 
I would prefer to err on the side of fairness and 
participation . 

I can not accept the argument of competitors "beating 
themselves to death the year of competition being 
abjectly opposite to the optimum" .
This country was build on the idea of competition. 
Competition is what raises the level of performance 
in all of us and gives us something greater to reach for. 
Competition is what makes us great not weak. 
Two selected races are not going to break any world
class horse anymore than competing in any number
of  exhibition rides , perhaps the ill effects will be even 
less.  

I personally like the Canadian idea of defining the team 
1 months in advance.  Regardless of which method is 
used to define the team, sufficient time should be given 
for all members to heal, train and peak for the competition 
and for the coaches to learn the strengths and weaknesses 
of each athlete.  With 11 months lead time any injury that 
may have occurred in the qualifying race would have ample
time to heal .  This is not the case with the current system
in which nominees are expected to perform demonstration 
rides until the final selection 3 months prior to the competition.

As for getting involved, In my view,  I am greatly involved by 
developing an awareness and consciousness of the pitfall
in the system.  I have received a lot of private correspondence
in support of these views from members who agree but fear
subjective repercussion against them if they go against the
system. I for one have nothing to fear so I do not mind 
leading the charge for the hearts and minds of the general
membership. That is where the decision should ultimately lie.

I  am not taking this time  attempting to change your believes 
or that of others defending the current process,  you are too
set in your opinion to accept the necessary changes.

In closing I would like to borrow from the words of a famous
poet and submit to you and the others that....

COMPETITION  MAKES LEGENDS .
LEGENDS  IS WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF. 
WHEN LEGENDS DIE THERE ARE NO LONGER DREAMS 
AND WHEN  DREAMS DIE THERE IS NO LONGER 
GREATNESS...

With regards and still sincerely wishing you success in Dubai,
 
Carlos Crespo
Florida
Keeping the Dream Alive
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