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ATTENTION:FEI
RIDE MANAGERS WANTED-Mark Dial & Sky Priesz, Endurance News
December,2004
What’s
the difference between a ground juror and a ground steward?
If you have hosted an FEI sanctioned event, you already know.
But if you haven’t, not to worry.
You don’t have to know!
Thanks
to a new project constructed within AERC’s International Committee,
ride managers interested in organizing an FEI ride in their region now
have an outstanding bank of resources to draw from.
One
of the most exciting aspects of the multi-dimensional program includes
the availability of loans up to $800 for assistance with up-front costs
of planning, such as filing fees. Additional
tools include a user-friendly publication of requirements, regulations
and rules along with a region-by-region list of your local friends and
riders who want to help will make things easier.
Organizing
any ride is a big job. The
additional filing requests, advanced planning and paperwork it takes to
host an FEI event can be an intimidating hassle to even the most
seasoned ride managers. If
you’re thinking of putting on a ride in 2005, YESTERDAY was the day to
get the ball rolling. Advanced preparation cannot be over-emphasized!
A
major obstacle in general has been the lack of cohesive information
available from a single source. Through
extensive research, personal experience and participation on many
levels, longtime FEI supporter and Biltmore ride manager Ann Ayala, with
the help of many others, has published a comprehensive packet containing
all the information you ever wanted to know (but were afraid to ask…)
about building an FEI sanctioned event from start to finish.
This information is made available freely to any and all
interested persons by request through your regional international zone
representatives.
Who
or what is the NGB for the
USA? Who is the OC for my ride if it’s an FEI event?
Does anybody have a dictionary for all of theses acronyms?
Isn’t it easier to ask a friend for directions than a stranger?
The AERC International Committee recognized a need for a
friendlier way to ask questions and have them answered.
That’s why volunteer from all regions have raised their hands
to make themselves and their experience available.
Now
if a person in Arizona wants to talk to someone about what is involved
to receive FEI sanctioning, they can contact a familiar face.
This might be the rider you sat around the campfire with last
weekend telling ride stories with until 1:00 am, not someone you’ve
never met who works in an office two time zones away.
Your regional volunteers and representatives know endurance and
endurance-specific issues. Their
ideas, suggestions and maybe even mistakes can be just the extra help
you need to get involved as a first-time FEI ride manager.
Another
hurdle AERC International identified and developed a solution for are
the required up-front tiling fees.
These fees can range upwards on $500-$800 and are due at the time
the ride date and sanctioning requests are filed, sometimes up to 18
months in advance. Money
has been set aside to help offset costs to ride managers when sending in
the initial paperwork. To
see if your ride qualifies for these financial assistance and details
about the program, contact the zone representative from your region.
Why
fly vets in from across the country when there are great vets right here
at home? Who wants to
bother with crossing all of theses t’s.?
What are the benefits of hosting an FEI sanctioned event?
Besides attracting higher
attendance numbers, especially in the 100 mile distance, FEI rides help
your regional riders achieve their higher goals.
Folks
who decide to take up the challenge of competing on an international
championship level, such as the North American or Pan-American
Championship, must first get their horses and themselves qualified and
experienced to participate. This means doing an FEI sanctioned event.
You’ve
heard over and over again how expensive it is to get involved with
international riding, right? Well,
a large part of the cost comes from having to travel so far form home to
attend the few FEI rides around the country.
If the qualifying rides were closer to home, more people would
feel encouraged to give it a try and in turn, rider turnout would be
increased.
Think
of this as your civic duty. Just
like sponsoring a junior ride or wearing the ”in time” hat for a
weekend, being involved on all levels of the wonderful sport to
endurance offers rewards beyond the cost.
Support you USA team an aspiring riders by providing opportunity.
Please take advantage of the eager help available by contacting
the international zone representative or a ride manager coach from you
region and come see what a fun, friendly and small world FEI riding can
be!
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