This year's AERC convention presented outstanding speakers on educational topics. Based on feedback from various members, the sessions were enthusiastically received and of great value to AERC members. The authors of this paper unfortunately missed many of these sessions as we spent much of our time in the Past Presidents Committee (PPC) meeting. Past presidents Joe Long and Maggy Price led the development of the education component of the PPC report. (Stagg serves as advisor to this committee).

The Past Presidents Committee was charged with working on developing long-term objectives and recommendations for AERC for the consideration of the Board of Directors. This column shares with you the objectives and recommendations developed by the Past Presidents Committee.

These recommendations have been presented to the AERC board. The next step is for the board, the Education Committee, and the PPC to refine these ideas further and importantly to translate this plan into action.

In this issue of Endurance News you'll find Part 1 of an excellent article by Dr. Nancy Loving, who was one of the presenters at the AERC convention, on how to avoid common mistakes made at endurance rides and how to do the best by your horse. I highly recommend all riders--experienced and new--read Nancy's article and take her advice to heart. Here is the summary of the education component of the PPC report.

Objectives:

-Instill in all members our philosophy of

1. Protection of the horse

2. Rider is ultimately and primarily responsible for the welfare of the horse

3. Endurance riding is first and foremost a competition testing the fitness and endurance ability of the horse and rider over a natural trail

- Provide members with the knowledge and skills needed to excel at their chosen roles and goals

- Lead in the dissemination of the knowledge from around the world in promoting the welfare of our horses

Who:

- New endurance riders

- Experienced endurance riders

- Ride veterinarians and treatment veterinarians

- Ride managers and ride volunteers

- Land managers and government legislators and officials

- The general public

How:

- Electronic via AERC website, other links

- Printed materials

1. Endurance News

2. Letters to membership

3. Printed material available from AERC

4. Bibliography of material

5. Press kits and releases to improve coverage by non-endurance media

- Seminars

1. For new riders at all rides

2. Continuing education at many rides

3. Regional and national seminars

- Support for new riders

1. Revised new rider packet

2. Encourage new members to participate in mentoring

3. Encourage new members to seek mentoring

4. Qualification system to develop Òstar ratedÓ mentors

- Monitor research from around the world and translate and disseminate information to AERC

- Network with local organizations as well an international and foreign organizations to disseminate information

- Establish ongoing funding.

1. For consideration: $3 per member per year (about 3% of revenues) from existing dues to be devoted to education.

This report provides an excellent blueprint for the educational mission of AERC, providing stretch objectives for the future and suggested means to improve beyond what we are currently doing.

As a parting thought, hands-on, locally-oriented education may be one of the best ways to reach the goal of truly educating all of the participants in AERC endurance events. There are many regional and local organizations that do much of the real education of endurance riders.

In future issues of Endurance News we hope to feature the educational work of these organizations and how AERC and these groups work together. For those looking for education check out your local organization. For those looking to educate, please get involved locally as well as with AERC.