The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), the national governing body for endurance riding in the United States, will hold its annual convention in Texas for the first time in 2006. The two-day program of seminars, informational meetings and a free trade show is set for February 24-25 at the Crowne Plaza Riverwalk in San Antonio.

Leading experts in equine health care and endurance-related fields will be featured at several seminar sessions. Other highlights of the AERC's convention will include a trade show featuring vendors from across the country. Regional awards will be presented at an evening reception on February 23, and the convention will culminate with AERC's national awards on the evening of February 25.

"We invite anyone interested in learning more about endurance riding to come check out the convention," says AERC Executive Director Kathleen Henkel. "Endurance is one of the fastest-growing equine sports and we're hoping some prospective members come out to San Antonio to see what endurance is all about."

Friday's seminar speakers include local veterinarian Robert L. Ball of San Antonio’s Bracken Equine Clinic, who will discuss hind limb lameness. Nationally-known equine anatomy specialist Deb Bennett, PhD, will cover “How Horses Work.” Longtime endurance veterinarian Kerry Ridgway is speaking on equine muscles. Thomas Tobin, DVM, of the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center is going to discuss performance effects, detection and regulation of equine drugs and medications. Other speakers include Paul Zeck, owner of Gulf Coast 4-Star Trailers (“Maintenance and Safety Issues with Horse Trailers”), endurance rider Jim Mitchell (“GPS in Endurance Riding”) and Denny Emerson (“Endurance Riding, Viewed by an Olympic Gold Medalist”).

Saturday’s seminars include a three-hour intensive course on saddle science and fitting by Dr. Ridgway, another discussion by Olympic equestrian Denny Emerson and Dr. Bennett’s “Little Things That You Can Do to Help Your Horse Win.”

The trade show will be located in the hotel’s Fiesta Pavillion from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Vendors at the free trade show will display a variety of products for long-distance riders—everything from saddles to jewelry to horse trailers.

Also open to the public is the convention’s annual Friday night dance from 9:00 until midnight. This year’s dance will take a Texas-style twist with square dancing and a mariachi band. Dance tickets are available at the convention for $10 per person.

Veterinarians can take part in the seven-credit continuing education program on Thursday, February 23, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the convention.

The convention location is the Crowne Plaza Riverwalk San Antonio, located at 111 Pecan Street East. Hotel reservations may be made at (888) 623-2800.

Registration can be made by phone to the AERC office at (866) 271-2372. More information and reservation forms are available online at www.aerc.org.

Based in Auburn, California, AERC is beginning its thirty-fourth ride season. Last year, more 375 sanctioned rides were held in distances from 50-100 miles, with many multi-day rides, in the conference's nine regions. Limited distance rides of 25-35 miles are designed for new riders and those who prefer riding the shorter distances.

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