Many months and committee meetings have gone into the development of a new selection process for 2008 and forward. Nominated riders will receive a ranking through a points system, starting in 2007, independent of which horse they choose to ride during the ranking process.

For example, Rider A nominates and rides Horse Z at the Git R Done, completes the event and (using the formula outlined below) receives points. Rider A then decides to ride Horse X at the Fort Howes ride and again completes, receiving points based on the aforementioned formula. Rider A now has two ranking trials under his/her belt and has points that will help determine a ranking.

Rider A could ride Horse Y during the ZTEC, complete and place higher than either of the other rides that have given him/her a ranking and the ride with the least amount of points earned from the three events will be dropped and Rider A may now have a higher ranking based on the new points. (We say "may" because other riders are earning points throughout this time period.) An important piece to remember is that riders must be nominated prior to the events they want to use as ranking trials in order for the points they earn at those events to count.

The above example is hypothetical, of course, but it gives you a bird's eye view of how the endurance rider ranking list (ERRL) process will work. We are very excited about the opportunities this will give many more riders.

Stay tuned for how horses become part of the equation -- or go to www.aerc.org/USAEndurance.asp or www.usef.org for the complete selection process and application, or contact Vonita Bowers at vbowers@usef.org for a complete packet.

An excerpt from the ERRL working document:

Ranking trials: Athletes shall be ranked using points earned by competing in designated ranking trials. Ranking trials shall include FEI CEI 3* events in the U.S. (the FEI rides posted each month in this section of EN), selected foreign trials (for example, the President's Cup held in the UAE in February) and selected national rides (selected AERC 100-mile rides). National rides that are named as ranking trials must comply with the FEI certificate of eligibility requirement and have a ground juror in attendance during the event.

In order to be ranked, athletes must compete in at least one CEI 3* ranking trial during the year. If a designated ranking trial offers an open AERC division and an FEI division, points may only be accumulated if competing in the FEI division. The ERRL: Ranking is determined using points earned from an athlete's two best performances at the ranking trials over a two-year period. Points will be earned for the ERRL as follows:

-- Ranking points will be calculated against all open riders entered in a designated ranking trial or in an authorized foreign trial, as defined above.

-- This ongoing ranking process is based upon the stress of head-to-head competitions among the riders against the whole field of participants.

-- While placing plays a role in determining points, finish time in comparison to winning time plays a more vital role.

-- A ranking score will be calculated for each rider that completes a ranking trial or approved foreign trial.

-- If a designated ranking trial offers an open AERC division and an FEI division, points may only be accumulated if competing in the FEI division.

- The ranking score for each rider at a ranking trial will be calculated as follows: Ranking Score = (Completion Points + Placement Points) - Time Penalties.

A rider awarded a completion will receive 50 completion points.

Placement points will be awarded only to the first 10 riders to complete the ride, only if they are within the "open" top 10. The first rider to finish and complete shall receive 100 points, and that number shall then be reduced by 10 for each succeeding rider to complete based upon his/her order of finish, resulting in the tenth rider to finish receiving 10 placement points. Later finishers will receive no placement points. (Note: If the top 10 finishers of a trial contain only three riders, then only those three riders will receive placement points. Riders will be competing against the "open" field.)

Time bonuses shall be earned for all riders who complete: 100 time bonuses for the first to finish; 90 for finishing within 15 minutes of the winning ride time; 80 for 15:01-30 minutes of the first place finisher; 70 (30:01-45); 60 (45:01-60); 40 (60:01-75); 30 (75.01-90); 20 (90:01-105); 10 (105:01-120); 5 (120:01-180).

The maximum ranking score that can be achieved at a ranking trial is 250.

2007 Ranking trials. This year's ranking trial rides are all the FEI rides, plus the July 21 Vermont 100, the July 28 WSTR 100 (Tevis Cup), the October 27 Armadillo 100 and Git R Done 100, and the November 27 Carolina 100.