by Tabby » Fri Sep 30, 2005 10:41 am
#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I'm mostly a lurker, but I'd like to chime in and say I support the suggestions to have people "earn" their way to open. In fact, I think it's a great idea. It actually addresses a number of issues in the sport, including why AA exists in the first place.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Years and years ago, most people who got into equestrian sports lived on their own farm and kept horses at home. We got "lessons" from people in our region who were fairly successful on local show circuits. These people weren't certified coaches - they were just trying to make some extra money to support their own riding. When I was a kid, only the extremely wealthy or very talented (Olympics bound) had their horses boarded at stables and took lessons with the real "pros". #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Nowadays, riding schools are filled with kids and adults from the city. These people have no idea what good coaching or proper equitation is until they've been at it for a while. They are easily impressed by racks of ribbons in the barn. They assume the coach knows what she/he's doing and that these ribbons are a testimonial to that - just as a case full of trophies would represent to a basketball coach. In other words, they can be easily tricked into paying gobs of money to someone who has no qualifications whatsoever to teach riding. I've seen it happen and probably many of you have too. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#In addition to providing a level playing field for competitions, AA designations (and coaching certification which has its own problems) are supposed to deter these "scamateurs" (love that word, BTW) from taking advantage of new riders as I described above. If all is working as it is supposed to, people will only coach IF and WHEN they are competitive with the rest of the pros. This way, the ribbons and trophies will be more representative of their actual accomplishments.#ed_op#BR#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#This is more important than you think. The economics of riding, like any other sport, is dependent on the new and young participants. They are the people paying for lessons, shopping for their first horse, filling up classes at shows, paying trainers etc. As it is, far fewer kids get into riding than say, soccer, because it is an expensive sport. But many that do get highly discouraged along the way - and one reason is being completely out-classed in competitions when coaches and trainers are cleaning up all the prizes. And apparently nothing can be done - even the examples given on this thread have prompted others to ask "where's the proof?" After a while, these people either become disillusioned and quit horses altogether, or simply give up on competition, ride on their own and contribute no more to the industry than board at a non-competition stable that may not even have a coach. I've seen both happen, many, many times.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I'm sorry if this seems a little off topic - I don't think it is. I think it is important to recognize the importance of true amateurs, as well as the integrety (or lack thereof) of the sport as a whole. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#