[drivingpairs] pairs selection question

Message text written by INTERNET:drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>I am just trying to figure out some perspective on this issue... I knw s=
o
little about international stuff/selection, ect. maybe some of you can he=
lp
out.
can someone post the shoort list for the horse pairs  teams?
 Larry Poulin, Mike Mclennan, & Lisa  Singer  I think are the obvious
choices that I think of right off - but i am sure the pool was larger tha=
n
that...   promising teams on the west coast?
  has there been any comment from any of the selection committee members
(or
wouldnt they be likely to comment?) =

  & any comment from those who were/ shuld have been  in the running?
  & can anyone give us a reason why the NGB would choose to not field a
team, other than the stated ' lack of qualifications?'  Do we assume its =
a
financial thing or?  <

Since I seem to have ended up the "front man" on this, I will do my best =
to
answer your questions. =


Larry Poulin, Mike McLennan and Lisa Singer were going to be the team
members.  When the selection process started over a year ago,  there were=

more.  In order to "try to make the team"  you apparently have to declare=

yourself,  sign some document,  send in $50 and put yourself in the pictu=
re
so to speak.  There is obviously a dead line to declare.  =


It became clear as the 10 selection trials progressed, that these three
were consistantly doing well,  the others that had declared encountered
problems of different sorts and eventually by the last trial or two, had
effectively dropped out, as it was clear who the top three were, and the
others didn't see the point in spending the time and money to go to the
trails.  =


I think it is important for people to realize the personal sacrifice that=

Mike went through to make this team.  He is not a wealthy man, and does n=
ot
have a sponser.  He lives near Houston TX,  (which is at the bottom, near=

the gulf).  He is a professional horseman,  a breeder of quarterhorses.  =
I
have known Mike as an aquaintance for several years,  we have competed at=

some of the same events.  He is driving a pair of horses that he bred,
raised and trained himself.  They are 1/2 quarterhorse 1/2 Friesens.  It =
is
my understanding that Mike has been selling off some of the land that was=
 a
part of his farm to pay for this campaign, and his trip to France.  I als=
o
understand that at least twice, he has spendt more than a month on the ea=
st
coast or in Florida to attend events.  Time that obviously meant he was
away from home and therefore also not making any money training horses. =

Four times he has driven to the east coast or Canada to participate in
trials.  The financial means (selling land) is not something that obvious=
ly
you can do again, and try again next time.  That money is gone.  This was=
 a
one shot deal for him.  =


The issue here really, for me, is NOT the quality of the team.  This team=
,
although likely not as strong as some we have sent in the past, it is als=
o,
I am told better than some we have sent before,  But that is not the poin=
t.
It was the process that took place.  The backroom, secretive manipulating=

of someone with an unknown agenda. Does anyone think for a minute that it=

only occured to Mr Fairclough and Mr. Johnson that Jack, Boots and Kelly
were pony drivers on Thurs. morning????? How can the driving community
expect anyone in the future to take the personal and financial gamble tha=
t
Mike and also Lisa and Larry and their sponsers have taken in the future =
if
they are going to be subjected to this kind of action on the part of the
USET?  Surely, we don't want to set a precedent of only going if we feel
assured of medaling.  Do you think for a minute the jumpers would put up
with not sending anyone because they aren't competitive at this time at a=
n
international level?  As  someone else pointed out,  how are they suppose=

to get that way if they aren't given the opprotunity to gain internationa=
l
experience?  =


There has been no public comment from  anyone that was on the committee,
other than the "official line" stating that they had voted not to send a
team.  Nothing since.  The committee members are apparently  under extrem=
e
pressure to keep things secret.  Which is another of my questions for Mr.=

Fairclough.  If you feel this was truely the right decision, why are you
afraid to have anyone talk about it or defend it yourself?

And lastly, it was clearly NOT a financial decision for the reasons state=
d
in previous posts.  =


Thank you to Helen for allowing me to answer the questions. =

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