[Endurance Riding: News] Belgium Considers 2016 World Endurance Championships Boycott

[Endurance.Net]

Horse-canada.com

February 26, 2015 | 0 comments

by: Royal Belgian Equestrian Federation

The Royal Belgian Equestrian Federation (FRBSE) has released a statement to express their disappointment in the state of endurance racing in the UAE. In it, they urge their members not to participate in any events held in these countries, and note that they may not send a team to the 2016 World Endurance Championships.

To follow is a translated version of the FRBSE’s statement:

The Royal Belgian Equestrian Federation has, for years, worried about the evolution of endurance races (CEN and IEC), and especially in some countries in the Persian Gulf, and regrets the incidents that occurred on January 31st, in Abu Dhabi at the Al Reef Cup, where three horses were killed, including at least one in terrible conditions.

Because the FRBSE finds that it is not a one-off event, they can only conclude that the United Arab Emirates does not estimate correctly the situation, despite the efforts of the FEI, who are making extra efforts to find a positive solution to these abuses through the formation of the Endurance Strategic Planning Group, and Task Force, as well as by making changes to regulations and officials for example.

The FRBSE wishes to state its commitment to participating in a sport where animal welfare and respect for the rules are adhered to. Consequently, pending a complete reversal of the situation, the FRBSE strongly discourages its members from participating in any endurance race organized in one of the countries concerned. At the same time, they are considering whether or not to send a Belgian team to the next World Endurance Championships in 2016, which was awarded to Dubai.


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Posted By Endurance.Net to Endurance Riding: News at 2/26/2015 01:42:00 PM

[Lisa Salas]

That's two. Will AERC be next? Please?

Lisa Salas, The oddfarm

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[Dawn Carrie]

Nice to see some countries stepping up to the plate and taking a stand for horse welfare and honesty in competition.  I'm not going to hold my breath for either AERC or our international riders to do the same, however.  But a huge kudos to Switzerland and Belgium!  Let's hope more countries follow their lead.  It's going to be a strange WEC if only region VII and the USA attend.  ;)

Dawn Carrie

[western]

If nothing else, let us announce that we are considering the possibility/feasibility of a similar boycott of these events. 

For many folks, worldwide, the AERC has a valuable and respected opinion. Let's take a stand for the welfare of the pony's, and the longevity of the sport. 

W. 

Sent from my iPhone

[Barbara Bates Peck]

Yes, I agree for the welfare of our ponies.

No one can really determine if world pressure will make a difference.

But the world is pretty small these days......so maybe .......

I'd like to think we can respect the horse for the lovely beings that they are..

and treat them with respect they deserve- 

which means standing up for them when we can.

Here is a famous quote I always really liked..

"The animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more
complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions
of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall
never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are
other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow
prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth."

quote by Henry Betson

Barb Peck 

[Truman Prevatt]

Bottom line I hate to say this, but the AERC is a day late and a dollar short.  I am sure the BOD has it excuses, however, I am also sure it takes European federations as long to act as the AERC.  The AERC should have been out front proclaiming our values and leading the band.  Now it seems the Swiss and Belgium are leading the band and the AERC has yet decided if it wants joint in.   Shame on the AERC - this is the sport we invented.  And the USEF - today they just announced the job opening for the 2016 WEC!  

So my question to the AERC BOD - are you going to support the Swiss and stand for the welfare or the horse or not?  The question is not difficult.  The answer is binary - doesn't require more than one word to answer.  

Truman

--

"The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently." Friedrich Nietzsche, The Dawn

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[Diane Trefethen]

On 2/26/2015 3:50 PM, western wrote:
> If nothing else, let us announce that we are considering the
> possibility/feasibility of a similar boycott of these events.

While I deeply sympathize with wanting to boycott the 2016 WEC if it is held at
a Group VII venue and sincerely hope that USEF does that, we, that is the AERC,
have no say in whether the US sends a team to the 2016 WEC so we cannot even
threaten a boycott. However, we can pass a resolution condemning the awarding of
the championship to a Group VII country and asking FEI to change the venue post
haste, in the interest of the welfare of our horses. Perhaps that is what the
Draft Agenda’s cryptic line, “Discussion and vote on Susan Garlinghouse motion
to file a protest with FEI” is referencing.

Furthermore, and here is where we separate the adults from the sniveling
teenagers, we CAN pass and send a demand to USEF to boycott the 2016 WEC unless
the venue is moved. Including a not-so-veiled threat that we might disassociate
ourselves from USEF if they do not withdraw wouldn’t hurt though that is
probably too much to hope for.

Diane Trefethen
AERC #2691
West Region

[Truman Prevatt]

__
“The future is not a gift. It is an achievement.”  Robert F. Kennedy

On Feb 26, 2015, at 9:17 PM, Diane Trefethen tr...@wakerobinranch.com [AERCMembersForum] <AERCMemb...@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

On 2/26/2015 3:50 PM, western wrote:
> If nothing else, let us announce that we are considering the
> possibility/feasibility of a similar boycott of these events.

While I deeply sympathize with wanting to boycott the 2016 WEC if it is held at 
a Group VII venue and sincerely hope that USEF does that, we, that is the AERC, 
have no say in whether the US sends a team to the 2016 WEC so we cannot even 
threaten a boycott. However, we can pass a resolution condemning the awarding of 
the championship to a Group VII country and asking FEI to change the venue post 
haste, in the interest of the welfare of our horses. Perhaps that is what the 
Draft Agenda’s cryptic line, “Discussion and vote on Susan Garlinghouse motion 
to file a protest with FEI” is referencing.

What we can do is stop being an enabler!  We can eliminate all co-sanctioning of AERC/FEI rides.  

Furthermore, and here is where we separate the adults from the sniveling 
teenagers, we CAN pass and send a demand to USEF to boycott the 2016 WEC unless 
the venue is moved. Including a not-so-veiled threat that we might disassociate 
ourselves from USEF if they do not withdraw wouldn’t hurt though that is 
probably too much to hope for.

Diane Trefethen
AERC #2691
West Region

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[Joe Long]

I think we're seeing a real test of the moral fiber of the AERC and the Board.

It's too late for the AERC to lead on this issue.  Others have taken the high ground.  The question now is whether the AERC will do what is right, or what some of its international elite want it to do.

Lisa Salas

February 26, 2015 at 2:57 PM

[k s swigart]

Joe said:

> It's too late for the AERC to lead on this issue.

I disagree with this.  From where I stand, the first thing _I_ heard publicly was Terry Wooley making a proposal for the AERC to address this issue. The only thing I had heard about before that was the FEI saying "it was a national ride that we can't do anything about."

The AERC can hardly take any further official action, realistically, before the upcoming Board Meeting at Convention.  The AERC could ask USEF to say/do something (and for all I know it has) more quickly than this so it could "lead" in this way.

Other than suggesting that something official be decided at Convention (which is what WAS done), there isn't anything more that "the AERC" could have done.

Although, I confess, I am mostly of the opinion that this IS something that could have been addressed by the AERC back when the 2016 WEC was awarded to Dubai which was months ago.  However, it is unlikely that anybody would have followed suit at that time (and leading if nobody follows is not leading).  It took three dead horses in one day and two broken legs shown on the Internet for all the world to see to push enough people over the tipping point.

I am not on FaceBook, so I don't know if other people were leading there before Terry made her proposed motion.  But that motion was the first I heard of anybody suggesting that something could officially be done besides "It was somebody else's local ride, so it's not our problem."  Terry's proposal was the FIRST proposal that said "We can't change what they are doing over there, but we can insist that our members not participate."

kat

Orange County, Calif.

[Joe Long]

OH, come on.  This just didn't come to light with this latest incident.  The time for the AERC to have shown leadership was a year ago.  You can't put that genie back in in the bottle.

k s swigart

February 26, 2015 at 8:44 PM

[Barbara MCrary]

I second Lisa’s post. As for Dawn’s post, if USA attends and competes only against Region 7, they can win at the cost of their horses’ welfare and gloat over us, as I’m sure they must each time they win. It leaves me with the oddest sensation to see someone put on a party with prizes and they take all the prizes home. Talk about conflict of interest!

 

Barbara

--

[Lisa Salas]

I believe boycotting the world endurance championship speaks louder than removing rides from a calendar. If I'm not mistaken, just because they are not on FEI's calendar doesn't mean they won't happen. It just means that FEI will be able to say, without a doubt they are not responsible for any abuse that will be on video, or otherwise.
Lisa Salas the odd farm

[Truman Prevatt]

I’m with Joe on this.  The AERC had the opportunity to lead - they punted with a letter that was very polite but really had no effect.  The AERC should be the drum major out in front of the band.  It is the AERC’s sport that has been bastardized in the name of international competition.  Do you think anyone is going pick apart the nits when they see a horse with two broken legs at and “endurance” ride.  Nope in reality I hold the AERC as culpable as the FEI because the AERC has been an enabler over the years - by promoting and providing cosanctioned rides.  That the AERC can have no a

affect that you often hear is a total copout. The AERC can have an affect but standing tall, and stop supporting the USEF/FEI in endurance, eliminate co-santioned rides, the USEF can run rides for those that want to participate and eliminate the AERC-I since there will not longer be a need.  

It’s up the the BOD.  They punted once.  I am very encouraged that the Swiss have stepped forward and taken a stand to protect the horses in the sport we invented.  To bad it was us leading the band. 

Truman 

--
“It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart you are. If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong” Richard Feynman

[stephanie teeter]

Truman - I need to set the record straight on something you said: "I am very encouraged that the Swiss have stepped forward and taken a stand to protect the horses in the sport we invented."

The 'Swiss' in this case are an FEI Federation. They exist as an entity to support FEI competition.

Steph

[Terre O’Brennan]

On Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 6:18:51 PM UTC-8, Diane Trefethen wrote:

On 2/26/2015 3:50 PM, western wrote:
> If nothing else, let us announce that we are considering the
> possibility/feasibility of a similar boycott of these events.

While I deeply sympathize with wanting to boycott the 2016 WEC if it is held at
a Group VII venue and sincerely hope that USEF does that, we, that is the AERC,
have no say in whether the US sends a team to the 2016 WEC so we cannot even
threaten a boycott.

Actually, I believe we, that is AERC, DO--as long as we remain the National Sport Organization for Endurance in the US.  In other words as long as we retain our ties and influence with USEF.  We would not, if we were to sever those ties.

I believe if AERC informed AERC International that we supported a boycott of the 2017 WEC if it remains in G7, and that were taken to USEF, then it could/would/should happen.  That is the actual function of the NSO.  AERC has always delegated this function to AERC-I, preferring to remain hands-off, but I think the pathway exists.

terre

[Joe Long]

Terre O’Brennan toby...@telus.net [AERCMembersForum]

February 27, 2015 at 1:05 PM

On Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 6:18:51 PM UTC-8, Diane Trefethen wrote:

Actually, I believe we, that is AERC, DO--as long as we remain the National Sport Organization for Endurance in the US.  In other words as long as we retain our ties and influence with USEF.  We would not, if we were to sever those ties.

I believe if AERC informed AERC International that we supported a boycott of the 2017 WEC if it remains in G7, and that were taken to USEF, then it could/would/should happen.  That is the actual function of the NSO.  AERC has always delegated this function to AERC-I, preferring to remain hands-off, but I think the pathway exists.

If that is the case (AERC has always delegated this function to AERC-I, preferring to remain hands-off), why does the AERC need to be involved at all?  What objection is there to separating AERC-I from AERC (and changing its name to remove "AERC" from it) and continuing those functions, while AERC takes care of its role with endurance riding in the U.S.?  Doing this has a huge upside, what's the downside (at least for the typical AERC member who does not participate in FEI rides)?

--
Joe Long  aka ChipRider
jl...@chiprider.com
 

[Joe Long]

Their action is still admirable.  Their reputation is enhanced while they're doing something positive.  Kudos to them.  

stephanie teeter

February 27, 2015 at 12:48 PM

Truman - I need to set the record straight on something you said: "I am very encouraged that the Swiss have stepped forward and taken a stand to protect the horses in the sport we invented."

The 'Swiss' in this case are an FEI Federation. They exist as an entity to support FEI competition.

Steph

[Truman Prevatt]

Absolutely - the stepped up and took a stand.  They stood up for their values.  Now were the heck is the AERC - not an official peep since "milk toast” letter.  As my granddaddy used to say - "unless you will to stand for your values you really have no values.”

Time is long overdue for the AERC to stand up or one has to wonder. 

Truman

--

"The greater our knowledge increases, the greater our ignorance unfolds."
   - John F. Kennedy

[terre]

<sigh> The complaint (if I could call it that) is that "we"--meaning
AERC--does not have a voice and could not call for a boycott. You can't
have it both ways; you either are part of the system and have a voice,
or you aren't part of the system and don't. THAT is the downside.

terre

On 27/02/2015 12:32 PM, Joe Long jl...@chiprider.com [AERCMembersForum]

[Maryben Stover]

Some have asked for the AERC to stop "co sanctioning" AERC and FEI rides.    I am a little unsure how that would work.  The AERC ride is sanctioned by the AERC.  AERC does not actually sanction the FEI ride.  If a RM chooses, they get sanctioning from FEI separately.  The FEI ride is run under their rules and the AERC ride is run under their rules.  You can be disqualified from the FEI ride and still complete the AERC ride.  It is like when you have an AERC ride run in conjunction with a ride and tie or a run.

AERC could refuse to sanction a ride if the RM is going to also have an FEI ride in conjunction with it.  Do we really want to do that?



..........mb

> Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2015 14:02:44 -0800
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> To: AERCMemb...@yahoogroups.com
> CC: ride...@endurance.net; tr...@wakerobinranch.com
> Subject: Re: [AERCMembersForum] Re: [RC] [Endurance Riding: News] Belgium Considers 2016 World Endurance Championships Boycott [1 Attachment]

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[Sandra Adams]

problem is that at three rides I went to, we had to abide by certain rules of FEI, even though we were “AERC-ONLY” riders. GRRRR. 

S. Adams
Deep Sands*Home of 
Salazar SF SE/AK/AF/H-ED
www.garyadamsbooks.com

[Diane Trefethen]

Apparently I need to clarify my earlier statement since Terre has misread what I
said and is now claiming her misreading IS what I said.

What *I* said is, “we, that is the AERC, have no say in whether the US sends a
team to the 2016 WEC so we cannot even threaten a boycott.” The United States
Endurance Team is a USEF team, not an AERC team, not even an AERC-I team. Therefore,
1) Only USEF has the AUTHORITY refuse to send Team USA to the WEC (boycott). Yes
AERC can bitch about Group VII till the cows come home if we want but USEF does
NOT have to listen to us and
2) Since “we” have no authority to actually implement a boycott, clearly we
can’t THREATEN one.

After disputing these facts, Terre said something truly incredible. “I believe

if AERC informed AERC International that we supported a boycott of the 2017

[sic] WEC if it remains in G7, and that were taken to USEF, then it
could/would/should happen.” Does anyone, ANYONE, who has dealt with USEF think
that all AERC has to do is ask USEF to please, pretty please, boycott the WEC if
it is held in Dubai AND USEF WILL DO IT? Remember, they wouldn’t even listen to
us about how to shoe our horses, insisting that we do it their way. They have
shown little respect for horse/rider teams and followed the Group VII view that
riders are just jockeys. And THIS IS THE USEF that is suddenly going to say, “Oh
yes, AERC Board. Your wish is our command?” In a pig’s eye they will. The only
reason USEF might offer to boycott the WEC is if their Executive Board feels
that failure to do so will give them a black eye in the international community.
They’ll do it to avoid looking bad but not just because the AERC BOD asks them to.

Terre said, “you either are part of the system and have a voice, or you aren't
part of the system and don't.” Unfortunately, AERC is an important “part of the
[international] system” like the MIS department is an important part of
Microsoft. Yes it’s important to supply the grunt work on the ground, but give
it a seat at the decision-making table? Uh-huh.

[Joe Long]

Maryben Stover merr...@live.com [AERCMembersForum]

February 27, 2015 at 3:21 PM

Some have asked for the AERC to stop "co sanctioning" AERC and FEI rides.    I am a little unsure how that would work.  The AERC ride is sanctioned by the AERC.  AERC does not actually sanction the FEI ride.  If a RM chooses, they get sanctioning from FEI separately.  The FEI ride is run under their rules and the AERC ride is run under their rules.  You can be disqualified from the FEI ride and still complete the AERC ride.  It is like when you have an AERC ride run in conjunction with a ride and tie or a run.

AERC could refuse to sanction a ride if the RM is going to also have an FEI ride in conjunction with it.  Do we really want to do that?

Want to?  No, but as long as the current abuse/cheating situation continues I believe that we NEED to do that.  It is a separate question from splitting AERC and AERC-I, though.  Even if the AERC disassociates from USEF/FEI and spins off AERC-I, co-sanctioning could still continue with the approval of the Board on a case-by-case basis.

Personally, the last co-sanctioned AERC/FEI ride I attended was going to be my last even if I was still competing in endurance rides.  The AERC-only riders were the "leftovers" (a direct quote from the RM).
We were last in line for a lot of things.

--

Joe Long  aka ChipRider
jl...@chiprider.com

A++ G+ PKR+ PEG+ B++ M+ 

[terre]

On 27/02/2015 6:41 PM, Diane Trefethen tr...@wakerobinranch.com

[AERCMembersForum] wrote:
>
> Apparently I need to clarify my earlier statement since Terre has
> misread what I
> said and is now claiming her misreading IS what I said.
>

I don't believe I did misread it; I just disagree.

This is what I believe to be true (someone from AERC-I can wade in if I
am mistaken):

AERC is the official National Sport Organization (NSO) for Endurance in
the USA. This is an actual legal "designation" within USEF, the
National Federation (NF).

AERC-I is considered (by USEF) to be a committee of AERC, not a stand
alone organization with its own by-laws, constitution, etc. If it WERE
this (and some people suggest it should be) then AERC-I might become the
NSO for Endurance in the US...but at present that is not the case.

As the NSO, AERC has the authority to instruct USEF as to how they want
the sport managed. To date AERC has preferred to remain at a distance
from International Competition and has been uninterested in doing this,
leaving a 'void' that has been filled by others, presumably AERC-I. Who
the individuals are who represent AERC to USEF I have no idea; nor do I
know how they are chosen or how they determine what to say.

But I maintain that AERC does, in fact, have the authority to reclaim
this 'power' if they wish to. I believe that the pathway would be that
the AERC BoD instruct AERC-I as a committee of AERC that they want the
US to boycott the 2016 WEG (if, in fact, that IS what we want). Since
AERC has no direct line of communication with USEF this might not be so
simple; on the other hand, it might be. It probably depends on who the
players are.

USEF is an organization, not a 'person'--it doesn't "want" anything.
Since probably over 95% of USEF members have nothing to do with
endurance, I doubt that USEF would care greatly whether we did or didn't
attend any International event. The people at USEF who "want" us to
attend (not necessarily the 2016 WEC, however!) are the endurance riders
and their supporters who compete at this level. They are the people to
whom AERC has delegated the authority to interact with the NF. They are
the decision makers.

In Canada, the NSO for Endurance is Endurance Canada. We have a seat
and vote in the Equine Canada (our NF) Sport Council, just like Dressage
and Three Day Eventing--iow we have a vote on all matters pertaining to
equestrian sport in Canada. On matters purely related to Endurance,
Equine Canada defers to Endurance Canada, as the NSO. I believe this is
the model (with variations) all over the world, and in fact I imagine
that this is what USEF 'thinks' is happening; that the AERC BoD works
with AERC-I. The fact that this isn't happening, is not USEF's 'fault';
it's ours. But the kind of relations I have just described is why the
NFs of nations like Belgium can respond swiftly...the formal lines of
communication are there.


terre (PS--one of the reasons I feel able to speak freely about this is
because, as a Canadian, I am actually unaffected by what AERC decides to
do--I have no personal stake. However, I have been an AERC member for
well over 30 years; I am committed to the sport of Endurance in both our
nations...and I believe AERC will be better served in the long run by
being involved than by trying to isolate itself.)