The Future of Green Bean Endurance Competition

That Lovin’ Green Feeling

As many of you may be already aware from the many t-shirts scattered among the regions. the Green Bean Endurance competition continued to draw new riders together, inspire, and foster belonging in the sport. Our little crew’s personal 2016 stats as of October of this year:

Total Miles Attempted: 15,330
Total Miles Completed: 12,650

Overall Completion Rate: 83%
Total Metabolic Pulls: 7
Total Lameness Pulls: 26
Total OT: 9
Total Rider Options: 27

Percent LD to Endurance: 54%
LD Completion Rate: 86%
Endurance Completion Rate: 80%

75's Attempted: 2
75's Completed: 2
Shannon Conrad - Biltmore 75
Kristen Gonyaw - Mustang Memorial

100's Attempted: 7
100's Completed: 5
Phylicia Mann - 20 Mule Team
Sara Borkosky - Biltmore Challenge
Laura Spear - Sunriver Classic
Jenny Gomez - Tevis Cup
Abigail Madden - Tevis Cup

Current TEAM leaders as of October: OTV Pony Tails, Picked The Blazin Belles, High point individuals in the TEAM competition are Debra Tibbitts, Heather Accardo, Cassandra Green and Claire Morris.

In the One Horse One Rider competition: Erin Hurley is leading in OTV and Jen Moore in the Picked/Cooked division.

Seedling Success: Leonardo Fuentes is our “out of the pod” leader.

Our group has had a few regional meet ups this season. The last was hosted by the Daniel Boone Distance Riders at Rendezvous October 8th. Nearly all of our Midwestern riders showed up for the gathering and Two Horse Tack graciously sponsored some beautiful prize give-aways to those in attendance.

2015 was our first season of competition and we had many members among AERC endurance riders at large who helped support the cause. As we segued into year two we focused more on commercial sponsorship, lower rider fees, and bringing our “brand of bean” forward to make our riders recognizable as a vital segment of the endurance riding community with t-shirts and matching splashes of lime green tack.

Deb Moe kept the technology straight, and I have worked the sponsorship end and served as emotional cheer leader for the group, while Maranda Bibb has lovingly nurtured a new small but important segment of our group called Seedling. The cuteness and effort of these kids is amazing. .

All said, we have impacted the sport. We helped to generate close to $12, 000 a year in AERC memberships. Our attendance at rides brought ride managers an estimated $30,000 plus in ride entries.  This new and younger demographic helps to build AERC strong, and bring fresh excitement to the sport. GBEcompetition is small at about 158 members, and 500 associate (interested) members.

There are in fact many independent Green Bean groups being supported by a handful of motivated people. They go quietly about, doing their work to build that early critical social connection. It is bringing results. Often the argument is thrown back that how it has been is good enough. I counter that with good enough for whom? We in the 50+ generation will be making way, for a new demographic.

TEAM competition? TEAM builds friendships. TEAM inspires completion. TEAM creates an I CAN mindset that pushes riders to grow to their personal best. TEAM offsets the disappointments. TEAM works together to find solutions. TEAM requires membership and inclusion in the larger group and in fact helps to support the bigger organization. Why can we not have Green Bean TEAM riding across our regions mainstream?

So what can you as an individual do to build momentum in the sport? We encourage your clubs to embrace the concept of TEAM riding among the Green Beans across the regions. Offer your intro riders the opportunity.  Fully embrace Green Bean movement at large and let it help support AERC.

 Get your GREEN on!