The water was orange/yellow, was assured it was afe for the horses to drink. Was very happy we didn’t have any grey horses as it was impossible for those who did to get the yellow out!
We traveled from Area II, I know that seems to be the bulk of the replies at any rate here is another. I promised my 15 year old daughter that if she could qualify on her very green OTTB That we would go. She not only qualified in BN she also qualified N. Her trainer who was also qualified was game so we put it on the calander. Our Trainer has traveled to many AEC comps and after making the trip to Texas have vowed to never make it again. The expense was prohibtive to say the least, distance to any semi decent hotels was a hoof, there was not a single good restaurant within 20 miles. I now know why so many fly over state competetors have trailers with living quarters! I will not mention any of the gliches the park had due to the fact that it was their first big event and it takes some time to work out the kinks, lets just say that if the participation would have been anything like what the years prior were, they would have been totally over whelmed (in my opinion) Having said ALL of that, my daughter enjoyed the experience just not enough to miss out on our own area championships and travel that far. I sure hope USEA listens to their members and continues to move the venue every 3 years.
I am from the middle of the country, and I probably won’t ever go to the AEC’s. It is a really long drive (as long for me as for some east coast folks). That is one big reason. Second, diesel is $4/gal. Third, it is really hot in TX at that time, and my horses are not used to that kind of heat. Fourth, I don’t know anyone there and wouldn’t have anyone to cheer for me(Or pick me up after the involuntary dismount). Fifth, if I wanted to compete somewhere “fancy,” I would rather spend my money going to RF or some big time East Coast event like Fair Hill or the Fork.
DarnBarn,
I understand that you are new and greatly appreciate your message, as I agree completely. Thank you for sharing your experience.
However, I need to correct your spelling of “qualify” and “qualified”. My spell check will not even let me spell it the way that you did it. Since you spelled it that way several times, I believe that it was not a typo. I am sorry that this sounds snarky. I do not mean it to be that way.
Back to your post: You have said what almost everyone on this board is thinking. I qualified for six AEC’s. I rode in 4 of them and had someone ride my mare another in 2010 (I was recovering from Cancer, so could not ride that year.) I would have gone in 2012, but was recovering from severe dehydration in a hospital and had to scratch.
The thought that they will stay in TX is sad. 
As another poster put it, “It will probably be the end of the AEC’s, as well as the ATC’s.” I loved being able to participate in our National Championship! I loved being stabled next to Buck Davidson in 2011. The AEC’s gives us a chance to watch the greats and learn something. In 2011, Doug Payne helped me with my warm-up for dressage. Afterward, we were sitting in 5th place, out of 40 riders. I never would have been able to have that experience anywhere else, but our National Championship.
I wanted the AEC’s to come to KY. The events which are held at the KHP in the Fall said, “No way!”. Why? Because of something that purplnurple said, which was that the AEC’s kill the scheduled events. I understand their concerns. However, it does not make me want to have it at the KHP any less.
I was so fortunate that Lamplight and Chatt Hills were close enough for me to attend. I will not go to TX. It is too far for an old lady and her getting older horse to travel. The Area8 Championships will have to be my destination event now.
Ohio chiming in here: yes, it would be totally self indulgent to have the AECs come to Kentucky Horse Park, but there is also no way on earth that I will ever be able to take my kid to them in Texas. Please please please don’t keep them in Texas forever.
I’ve made my point already but I do want to say that I actually LIKE Texas. A lot. I do have family there…and have travelled there before. While I doubt highly that I would ever pay the expense to take a horse there to compete (other than possibly for a big CCI event–and even then, not likely. I AM actually likely to try and get to Rebbecca Farms at some point–I would send my horse with some Pros, and fly out…again, not something I’m likely to do more than once but RF has a bigger draw to me than the AECs). I have and will go to Texas on vacation and to visit friends.
Just didn’t want the impression that I dislike Texas…
So, how many of you have written or called the USEA to let them know how you feel about this issue?
Count me as #1.
I agree with the general consensus here…would not go all the way to TX for AEC’s and would hate to see it stay there permanently.
If this happens, I think we will start to see more emphasis on Area Championships, which isn’t a bad thing. In my area (IV) they have not been well attended and it would be nice to see that change. Maybe each area could recruit their own $$/sponsors for prizes to make the champs more of a big deal. I take part in planning our annual area meeting and have found it is not very difficult to get donations if you just ask.
[QUOTE=smay;7320712]
Ohio chiming in here: yes, it would be totally self indulgent to have the AECs come to Kentucky Horse Park, but there is also no way on earth that I will ever be able to take my kid to them in Texas. Please please please don’t keep them in Texas forever.[/QUOTE]
Suzy, you get your ass down here to Texas now! I don’t care if you bring that twin daughter of yours or not, but you must bring Ghost. lol
So, how many of you have written or called the USEA to let them know how you feel about this issue?
I feel sure the PTB will find out about this thread and save me the time. But if I were going to write, it would be about a different issue. I don’t really care where they hold the AECs b/c I will probably not ever go (see my post above). If they want to draw people like me (ie the 80% of eventers who will never compete above novice) (well, maybe training), I need something for my dollar. I will not ever win the $40,000 and I don’t care if I get to stable next to Buck Davidson. When I need a fill of the BNT, I go to Rolex. I want prizes for participation, not just winning. I want wining and dining, I want sessions with BNR grooms to see how they do things. I don’t care about competing against a bunch of amateurs. I can do that at home!
ETA: And yes, I would pay an extra $25 for those things.
I think asterix and auburn are right. We need to let USEA know how we feel about this or they will just go on their merry way and do it. So if you do care about this issue (and I get it if you don’t) then you should let USEA know.
My email to the new pres (hey, welcome to job, here is the my first complaint :lol:) is drafted and will get sent tonight (I cannot access my personal email from work).
Carried Away:
There is a reason the champs have not been well attended in the last couple of years. Heritage is a long way away (why not the middle of the area?) and Queeny Park was the first week of June. They need to plan a little better if they want better turnout for champs. There are some nice venues in the middle of area IV, and they could get some nice prizes, and they could have it after July!!! Last year, I did not even get into the fields until June.
[QUOTE=pheasantknoll;7320780]
Carried Away:
There is a reason the champs have not been well attended in the last couple of years. Heritage is a long way away (why not the middle of the area?) and Queeny Park was the first week of June. They need to plan a little better if they want better turnout for champs. There are some nice venues in the middle of area IV, and they could get some nice prizes, and they could have it after July!!! Last year, I did not even get into the fields until June.[/QUOTE]
I agree with you! Unfortunately the area championships have to rotate venues to make it fair to the organizers that want to host them. It will definitely be held later in 2014 
Thank you Auburn for reminding me why I don’t join forums, and thank you for not pointing out the I’m sure many punctuation errors. I didn’t realize I was writing an essay for an english teacher. Just wanted to voice my first hand experience on the subject.
[QUOTE=RAyers;7319547]
I don’t like Texas. It’s got all those Texans there. ;)[/QUOTE]
bite me
Me neither. And I’m 2 hours from the venue.
Why would I want to pay 600 bucks to compete at a venue I have 365 day access too? I go to the AECs for the new faces and the new venue.
I don’t want to go to the AECs with the same ol people I always see.
lol.
But I’m weird like that.
Dare. I’ll go if Reed goes.
So who goes to the AECs?
Many who live close to the venue say they won’t go because it isn’t special. Many who live far say they won’t go because it’s too far and/or too expensive. Both are valid opinions. But it makes me wonder, who is left to actually attend?
I agree that going to a local venue isn’t all that special. I live on the West Coast and going to Galway for the AECs wouldn’t be very special. Having it at Rebecca is still a two day drive for me, so it isn’t really saving me anything to have it there as opposed to Texas, etc.
It seems that the AECs are maybe supposed to be a big effort - in terms of time, distance, and costs! For it to be truly special you would think it would be at a unfamiliar venue, with lots of people/horses from other areas. That’s the appeal and challenge of the event. Anything else is just a large HT with local people/horses.
I’m not sure what the answer is for the AECs. I doubt I’d trailer from the West Coast to KY for a prelim or below HT, no matter how special. I doubt I’d go to a local venue unless it just happened to work into my annual competition schedule. Maybe the AECs just aren’t meant to be for many of us? I think if you are going to go, then you will probably make the effort wherever it is held. And if you aren’t going to go, you will use the logic of it being either too far or too local. I would be curious how many competitors (%) went to all the different geographic locations and how many went to only one venue and was that venue local to them?
I love the IDEA of the AECs - a national championship for the little guys. But when it comes down to it, I’m not going to all that effort, time off work, expense, travel, etc. for a low level HT. Even with a super fancy competitive horse, it’s 50 entries in a BN or N dressage test. Maybe T and P would be more rewarding? I’m just not sure how to make it work…
It sounds like it just didn’t feel that special this year. Perhaps they will get it right next year.
I disagree that you have to change venues to make an event feel different and special.
Plantation Fields HT is a local event for me…as in I could probably hack there if I wanted…less than a 15 minute trailer ride. I’ve competed there a TON for many years. Yet their big event in September IS very different from their normal HTs through out the year. And it isn’t even the entry numbers…as they have a lot of entries at all their events. But they go all out. Special events, trade fair, VIP tents…it just has a different feel. It is also a CIC 1-3* event but not the only CICs we have in the area…Fair Hill is pretty close too. But it is getting close to feel as the CCI 2-3* at Fair Hill now in terms of feel. But it has taken them a few years to build it up. I suspect that may be part of the problem for the AECs…It does take a different organizational effort to make it feel special. And honestly…a lot of marketing outside of the event world.
(eta: Of course my view is still the same that the AECs should move…if their intent is to be sponsored by the USEA and a “national championship”).
Moving them around the country does create a certain amount of extra buy-in for people who may someday hope that it will come near them. That said, once it is established, it’s not wrong per se to have a permanent choice of venue. It just has to be a spectacular venue. Most of our destination upper level events are at permanent venues. 
I think anyone who feels strongly about this probably needs to take the time to write or call USEA rather than assume what they write on this thread will be heard and considered. Rightly or wrongly, a communication directly to them with your USEA number attached will carry far more weight whether they happen to find this thread or not.
[QUOTE=opinionated1;7321272]
I think if you are going to go, then you will probably make the effort wherever it is held. And if you aren’t going to go, you will use the logic of it being either too far or too local. I would be curious how many competitors (%) went to all the different geographic locations and how many went to only one venue and was that venue local to them?..[/QUOTE]
I can only speak for me and the friends I know who have gone to AECs but IME (limited though it is), we all were willing to do a decent amount of travel and put in significant effort but there is a line that makes it too much. The drive for us the time I went (with friends who were also competing when it was at CHP) was a full day’s drive and required time off work, hotel, etc. It did not cost anywhere near $3,000 to do it and I did not have to take a full week off of work. Those 2 things take it off the table as viable for me.
So I don’t agree that if you are motivated to go, you will go wherever it is and if you don’t want to go you will use distance or proximity as an excuse (since I went when it was not in my backyard and I would go again if I was qualified and it was in my backyard or a day or less of driving away).
Just my experience
