Letter sent this morning to AERC Board of Directors. [Edited to add: Written, not by me, but a group of concerned members.] If you are a member and you agree with the sentiments in this letter and the members who signed it, it is not enough to hit “like” on Facebook, or make a comment saying you agree, or send me a note saying you agree wholeheartedly.
You must email your AERC Board of Directors (here’s the link to do so: Link to email AERC BoD ), provide them with your AERC membership number, the service you provide to the organization (Ride Manager, Veterinarian, Committee Member, Ride Volunteer, Trail Volunteer), and include “Enough is Enough!” in the subject line of your email. Feel free to cut and paste the contents of the letter if you like.
E-mail sent 10/1/2018:
Dear AERC BoD Members, Kathleen and Troy:
Several long-time AERC members drafted a letter outlining our disenchantment with USEF/FEI international endurance. We sent the letter to a number of AERC members who have contributed a great deal to the organization and who we believed would want to join us as signatories. We were not surprised at the overwhelming positive response. Most replied “YES” or “add me.” We believe the majority of AERC members share the sentiments expressed here.
We’ve added Troy to this distribution to request publication of the letter in the next issue of Endurance News, in an attempt to reach AERC members who do not frequent social media or the internet.
We understand that the Executive Committee and AERC-I Committee have sent a letter to USEF, requesting changes.
Unfortunately, we have all been witness to the previous letters, and the lack of substantial response from USEF/FEI. It is time that we step away; these are not our egregious issues to fix.
Let’s determine our own destiny and show our members as well as the world that we have had enough and will no longer support USEF/FEI endurance until they can improve and enforce their rules.
Thank you.
***
September 27, 2018
To the AERC Board of Directors:
Many of us within AERC recall with pride when endurance became an international-level sport. This evolution, however, has resulted in changes we can no longer tolerate or support. We have observed with growing alarm years of corruption, egregious issues regarding horse welfare, attempts to influence through example, pleas to stay at the table, and letters, motions and new rules to address the problems to no avail. We have lost confidence in these efforts to produce real change on the actual field of play. The issues associated with international endurance continue growing within our sport. High emotions are dividing us, and the dilemma is compromising the sport we love.
The recent World Equestrian Games, held on American soil, were not officially sanctioned by AERC, but relied on the support of many of our riders, horses, veterinarians, and members. Many sensed a coming disaster but had no power to prevent it. AERC sent a letter to USEF, expressing concern about a “level playing field.” Connie Caudill, a member of the AERC Board of Directors, initiated a Change.org petition demanding FEI make changes to tangibly ensure equine welfare. That petition has garnered well over 5,000 signatures.
Despite the fact that the Tryon WEG was not AERC-sanctioned, our sport will forever be tarnished by this event. The competition was mired with avoidable controversy and competitors were denied a level field of play.
The WEG is the final catalyst after years of poisonous problems within USEF and FEI regarding international endurance. It is time for decisive and bold leadership from AERC. We must stand alongside other National Federations equally dismayed by the corruption of our sport and decisively shout, “ENOUGH.”
We urge the AERC Board of Directors to respectfully decline executing the affiliate endurance organization contract/agreement with USEF until such time as FEI has made significant and tangible changes to enact and enforce rules consistently, without favoritism or undue influence by sponsors. We ask that international endurance cease to be run over courses allowing unfettered speed demanding few exceptional skills. Lead us in our return to more tempered, elite competitions over challenging, technical terrain that tests the finest in horsemanship, athleticism and strategy.
There is much that can be done to improve our sport in the USA and Canada as AERC. Let us focus on using our voice and actions to demonstrate to the world that we are different from what they saw at WEG. The AERC National Championship, just a week later, showed how elite events can and should be run.
We hope other National Federations will see AERC as a leader true to the foundation of our sport and invite them to work with us in building a new vision of international riding, following in the footsteps of the Young Rider International Exchange Program, without the taint of USEF or FEI involvement.
Our AERC members and horses deserve a sport truly modeled after our motto, To Finish Is To Win. We call upon you to lead us forward out of the mire and into a future true to our integrity.
Sincerely (listed alphabetically),
Stan Alkemade, 8475, NE Region, Veterinarian, Former FEI Vet, Former Team Canada/East Veterinarian
Nina Bomar, 4165, PS Region
Elysa Braunstein, VMD, M31822, PS Region, Veterinarian
Kathy Broaddus, 11416, NE Region, Veterinarian
Dianna Chapek, 4093, W Region, Former Director, Pard’ners Award
Cindy Collins, 176, MT Region, Former Director, Ride Manager, WY Trails Advocate
Diane Connolly, M31597, NE Region, Ride Manager
Crockett Dumas, 748, MT Region, Former Director (22 years)/AERC President, Started Trails Committee (1983), HOF Person
Steve Downs, M38411, PS Region
Randy Eiland, 39, SW Region, Former Director/AERC President, Former Chair RM, Sponsorship, Rules and Sanctioning Committees
Denny Emerson, M19095, SE Region
Dawn Engle-Hilliard, M36420, NE Region, Ride Volunteer
Ruth Ferland, M33457, NE Region, Ride Manager, NH Trails Advocate
Kerry Greear, M33578, MT Region, Former Ride Manager, Former Co-Chair Education Committee, AERC Education Committee
Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, 6747, W Region, Vet Committee, Former DAL and Education Committee Chair, Volunteer Service Award
Becky Glaser, 6542, W Region, Former USEF Selector, Former Junior Committee
Lynne Glazer, 14580, PS Region, Former Ride Manager, Clinic Organizer
Claire Godwin, DVM, 9671, NE Ride Manager
Laura Hayes, 2741, MT Region, Former Director/VP, Former Chair Welfare of the Horse Committee, Ride Manager
Bri Henderson, DVM, M30691, NE Region, Veterinarian
Elisabet Hiatt, 5022, W Region, Ride Manager
Dean Hilliard, M37752, NE Region, Ride Volunteer
Blaine Jack, M36339, NE Region, Ride Manager
Pamela Karner, M33003, NE Region, Ride Manager, Veterinarian, FEI PTV
Jamie Kerr, DVM, 7841, W Region, Veterinarian, Former FEI Veterianarian, Former Vet Committee
Jan Mutchler, 17308, SW Region, Ride Manager
Lani Newcomb, 658, NE Region, Veterinarian, Old Dominion BoD, Ride Manager
Tom Noll, M30552, NW Region, Former Director
Lori Oleson, 1418, W Region, Ride Manager
Taylor Pashong-Walck, M22483, SW Region, Ride/Asst Manager
Pam Peace, 5822, W Region, Ride Manager
Patti Pizzo, 9968, NE Region, Former Director, Ride Manager
Jennifer Poling, M32258, NE Region, Decade Ride Manager, Former AERC-I Zone Rep, WV Trails Advocate
Naomi Preston, 4096, Former P&G Committee, Owner: HOF Horse
Carla Richardson, M34774, MT Region, Former Director, Welfare of the Horse Committee
Susie Schomburg, 6505, MT Region, Former Director (10+ years), RM Committee, Ride Manager (28 years), MRER President
Cindy Simcox, 9144, MT Region, Ride Manager
Patti Stedman, M20888, NE Region, Former Director and Chair of Ride Managers & Education Committees
Roger Taylor, 1496, SW Region, Former Director/Treasurer, HOF Person, Ride Manager
Kevin Waters, 6784, MT Region, Committee Member, Former Director
Bruce Weary, DC, 4160, SW Region, Former Director, Member of Welfare of the Horse, Education, P&G and Veterinary Committees
Barbara White, 2446, W Region, Committee Member
We invited other AERC members to add their names to the original signatories starting on 11/09/2018. We’ll be updating the letter as their names are added.
Updated as of 11/13/2018; 3:30pm EST
Marcia Achenbach, 405, MW Region
Linda Aiello, M18320, W Region
Sandy Andrews, M39128, PS Region
Jeanne Aslakson, M21038, MW Region
Candy Barbo, 14558, MW Region
Linda Barton, M39243, NE Region
Sue Basham, 275, MT Region
Drin Becker, 9196, MT Region
Jennifer Bishop, M22744 ,PS Region
Valerie Bixler, M30180, CT Region
Sherry Blenden, DVM, M40414, NE Region
Sandy Bolinger, 6107, MT Region
Eve Blumenfeld, M42024, W Region
Kimberly Burke, M44390, W Region
Rosemary Carlson, M41337, SW Region
Stan Carlson, M45310, SW Region
Dawn Carrie, M19967, CT Region
Stephanie Chase, M42474, MT Region
Robin Chriss, M41909, PS Region
Patricia Clark, M33657, SE Region
Barry Cole, 3383, MW Region
Linda Cole, M32654, MW Region
Celeste L. Comfort, M19368, W Region
Lauren Coziah, M44133, MT Region
Holly Davies Bertram, M22321, MT Region
Kathleen Davis, M20346, W Region
Amy Dedafoe, M40618, SE Region
Dolly DeCair, 1747, NW Region
Diane Doll, 9834, SE Region
Nancy Donaldson, M19398, MT Region
Julie Figg, M38888, MT Region
Tim Finley, M42140, CT Region
Debra Fisk, M34569, NE Region
Lois Fox, 5100, NW Region
Susan Friedman, M21313, W Region
Greg Fuess, M41090, SW Region
Lisa Germann, 12140, MW Region
Buddy Gleason, M18416, SE Region
Marci Gomez-Young, M37693, MT Region
Karen Graham, 9073, MW Region
JayaMae Gregory, M40041, W Region
Linda Hamrick, 14301, MW Region
Michelle Harrigan, 15409, MT Region
Sandy Holder, M30961, W Region
Jessica Huber, M43427, NW Region
Carole Huston, M18811, PS Region
Don Huston, 14229, PS Region
Jen Joines, M43808, PS Region
Chris Kaznowski, M33797, W Region
Elicia Kamberg, M38161, W Region
JoAnn Kewish, 7402, MT Region
Sonja Knecht-Hoshi, M34751, NE Region
Heidi Larson, M20935, NW Region
Carolyn Loedeman, 5555, NE Region
Rachel Lodder, M33006, NE Region
Kathy Macki, M17319, MW Region
Abigail Madden, M21382, W Region
Andrea Maitland, M42401, SW Region
Liz (Elizabeth) Maitoza, 6568, W Region
Mary Mast, 9860, NE Region
Roy McDaniel, M33821, SW Region
Barbara McGann, 840, NW Region
Deb Moe, M41925, MW Region
Marlene Moss, M21530, NW Region
Sarah Mountain, M43537, NE Region
Cleo Nixon, M43361, NE Region
Penny Nixon, M43363, NE Region
Kelly Norton, M41265, PS Region
Bo Parrish, 91, CT Region
Linda Parrish, 92, CT Region
Sandra Peterson, 8465, PS Region
Jinnifer Plummer, 2625, MW Region
Truman Prevatt, 8217, SE Region
Barbara Reinke, 4369, SW Region
Emily Richardson, M17456, NE Region
Potato Richardson, 4922, W Region
Lisa Rushing, 11212, PS Region
Kristi Schaaf, M20814, MW Region
Jas Schearer-McMahon, 2955, MT Region
Lisa Schneider, 5728, PS Region
Sandy Scott, M20055, PS Region
Cheryl Searer, 14134, SW Region
Paul Sidio, M21606, CT Region
Henry Smith, M30510, NE Region
Leslie Smith, M30511, NE Region
Richard Stedman, M20887, NE Region
Diane Stevens, M34668, W Region
John Stevens, M41552, W Region
Tamara Stewart, 12418, W Region
Brenna Sullivan, M20426, W Region
Bonnie Swiatek, M18381, MT Region
Janice Taylor, 7773, SE Region
Eric Thompson, 2385, W Region
Jana Thompson, M41235, MT Region
Nina Thompson, M41979, W Region
Callie Thornburgh, 1501, W Region
Lynne Tomovick Loverich, 14583, MT Region
Ruth-Diane Trefethen, 2691, W Region
Kerrie Tuley, M41167, W Region
Nancy Walker, 600, NE Region
Dale Weaver, M36302, NE Region
Ashley Wingert, M34071, SW Region
Chrystal Woodhouse, M35669, NE Region
Lara Worden, M30701, SE Region
Timothy Worden, M30700, SE Region
Janet Worts, M32279, PS Region
Amy Yatsko, M17448, NE Region
Roberta Young, M39060, NE Region