In a message dated 03/31/2000 11:27:34 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Tivers@aol.com writes:
<< If you want to see people who have put in the
time, and know their horses, and genuinely give a damn about their horses,
look to the front of the pack. >>
Tom:
This statement bothered me and prompted me to speak up. It's quite true for
some people and in some circumstances, but the broad sweep of such a
statement is disturbing to me. Most endurance riders I've encountered in 12
years of competition, no matter what their goal or where they fit in the
pack, both "know their horses" and "give a damn about their horses."
I've been a front-runner my whole endurance career. I train my horses and
myself to be there and have reaped the rewards of good preparation and my own
will to win. But don't kid yourself, Tom, there are more than a few
front-runners who DO NOT meet the description you've put forth. The public
face you and others see in the vet checks and at camp is not the same face
that is on the trail running to win. I've ridden with most of the top riders
in this country and many "genuinely give a damn." But I've ridden with men
and women who will say and do one thing when the world is watching and turn
completely around and do otherwise when the win is at stake. Maybe you'd be
surprised, maybe you wouldn't. But the horses' welfare is not the top
priority of too many top performers.
I think I can pontificate just a little, because I've won a lot and set lots
of course records and never had a horse require vet treatment. That doesn't
mean I've always made all the right choices, but I've always tried to
remember to "give a damn" about my horse more than I give a damn about
winning. Please don't assume that people who are at the front of the pack,
no matter how often they are there, put their horse's needs first. It's just
not always the case.
Debi Gordon