Dancer's Death--Some Facts

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Joanclaire joanclaire2000@compuserve.com
Yes, there are many facts being left out about the Oakland Hills tragedy on Saturday. Granted these facts can only be known by  those who were witnesses to this very sad, life-changing experience. Many judgmental people calling for bans and 'shunning" and all the rest of it are simply wrong as to the chain of events that took place and, to the history of the rider and his terrifically talented horse, Dancer. The true circumstances surrounding Dancer's accident and the way in which he was trained and cared for are known by me.  Lack of  restraint and the mean spirited way in which people have rushed to judge have caused Dancer's family an enormous amount of additional suffering--I offer what I know in an effort to add FACTS to what heretofore appears to be nothing but unadulterated GOSSIP.

I was with Dancer and Dave at the bottom of the ravine before the Vet arrived. I was there when after heroic efforts by many caring, knowlegeable people Dancer was able to get up and walk out of a treacherously steep and overgrown ravine. Mind you, I knew within minutes after the first horse crossed the finish line that there was trouble. Call it an instinct. Call it knowing the horse and rider well. Rocky (the first horse in) and Dancer began the fourth loop within 3-5  minutes of each other. When Rocky and his rider crossed the finish line I asked how far back he last encountered Dancer and Dave and he said "about mile back"...As it turned out it was some three  miles back. I asked the finish line spotter to check on the pair. Her response, "Oh,they're fine... DAve's okay...He's probably lost. He's always getting lost."  I kept pressing her to check up on the lagging pair as they tend to be front runners and if anything were truly wrong there would be a considerable time gap before help would reach them. I urged her to use the HAMM volunteers. Eventually she did, but not before horse number 2 arrived, his panic-stricken rider (Suzi Graham) bringing the news that a rider and horse had fallen into a ravine.  She did not know who it was but could hear the rider's voice calling out for HELP She was carrying Dave's back pack which had been retrieved from the trail. Mind you, the time is now about 1 p.m. Over an hour after the fall. The 2nd -in rider explained  she heard a man saying he was okay but that his horse was NOT. I believe she also said he told her the horse was in  pain. I immediately asked to take my small truck down the trail to help . "Oh no, can't do that It aggravates the park service people and we don't want to do that." I crewed for Dancer and Dave at the Oakland Hills and  Wine Country races-- I was with them at both events. I know them well. For those of you offering snide comments surrounding the Wine Country race. David came in about 40 minutes ahead of the pack at mile 26. He passed the vet che
ulled his horse willingly due to a thrown shoe and two small blisters caused by front bell boots   I was there. This is what he told the vet. "I could run him , but why? There's nothing to gain. Nothing's worth making my boy miserable." --FACT.

I can attest to Dancer's excellent condition and diet, excellent living arrangements, daily groomings and excellent training regime. At the Oakland Hills ride he had  all A minuses save a B+ gut sounds sign off. FACT:  I never saw Dave whip Dancer. EVER. I never saw Dave hit him. They were extremely close, sharing a bond that I can only describe as a once-in-a-lifetime connection. Further, after riding with them many miles during training sessions. I can assure everyone that Dancer was systematically trained to handle endurance course work and Dave never exceeded his ability or Dancer's willingness to "go."

For all those throwing about the term, animal abuser, be a little more careful. I've spent my entire adult life protecting animals. It is not the time to list those endeavours, but suffice it to say, I would not condone animal abuse in friend or foe Frankly, even though I crewed for Dave, I do not fully support endurance riding. Not because of riders like Dave who know the sport and perform it at peak levels, but rather for the indecencies I witness from less experienced, overweight, and ignorant riders, who may not in some cases even know how to check for their horse's heart rate. FACT: I witnessed this at the Oakland Hills ride. One woman came in on a horse she said had been in the paddock for almost six months and didn't the know the first thing about cooling her horse, or checking for vitals. I helped her cool her horse at the trough feeling a bit sick at heart.  With this deficiency in knowledge, would it be likely she understood about electrolyte depletion, or lameness, or ...?  

Bottom line:   Dancer was well loved, well cared for, and is at this moment and for the future to come so dearly missed.  I was with Dave and Dancer at Davis. I can assure everyone that no cost, time, love, energy or expertise was spared on this brave horse.  When all hope vanished  I witnessed Dave's anguish, seeing him swab Dancer with cold compresses to add what little comfort he could to a feverish, pain wracked horse so undeserving of what would lie in store. He held Dancer's sweet soft eyed head in his lap weeping uncontrollably for six and a half hours. I saw him wet Dancer's tongue, massage him tenderly as one would a dying child, feed him small handfuls of grain. From beginning to end, I was there. I hope this gives comfort to all of you with "concerns" . Perhaps, sometimes, fate is often the abuser in life, not people. Perhaps the compassionate thing to do right now would be to steer clear of mindless accusations! 

A cautionary note: Most horses if subjected to severe trauma as Dancer was late in a ride (he fell some 200+ feet, was hung up in a tree, head down. When Dave broke him free, he fell again head-tail to the bottom.--three rotations) will go into renal distress. It can be true that in horses who receive bute and bantamine, for them to also acquire gut ulcers after such treatment, given the  trauma.  A catch 22. Countervailing problems requiring countervailing remediation are never easy to treat. Imagine if that hour spent just "waiting and seeing had been shortened? It may not have mattered, but it may also have been wise to act with the utmost dispatch.  Ultimately, Dancer gave the most and received the worst. I shall always feel this way about him or any animal who dies needlessly in a tragic accident. Please, all of you, remember: This was an accident for a horse in great condition. There was a tragic outcome. Unfortunately, for horses in the endurance game, electrolytic shortages happen, now add severe trauma, now you've got a good chance renal failure will occur. With renal failure often comes  the onset of laminitis and colic. It is not an outcome I'd wish on any animal. Laminitis, being the condition where horses can, and often do, walk out of their hooves. 

No, Dancer was not abused. Not under my watch. I could not say this and live with myself. He was SO DEEPLY LOVED!!! 

Also I'd like to thank in writing those people who so lovingly gave of their time and talent on Saturday to help Dancer. Laura Fend picked handfuls of grass and made endless trips up and down that ravine to give them to Dancer. She was solid and helpful and truly tireless in all she did. Lisa arrived with oats and water which Dancer consumed with relish, Mike, the vet, worked so smartly and compassionately to help bring Dancer up out of that ravine, Hugo, the fireman directed the step building brigade and it was his men who literally created steps for Dancer to walk up. It made all the difference. There was Pete, the radio man--his efforts were critical and again, he was tireless. There was a man who slid down the ravine on his back side with medical supplies. I don't know his name, but it wss a generous much appreciated effort. There was the ambulance driver and all the behind-the-scenes people we shall never be able to thank. We do know that they gave the situation all they had. I am sure Dave joins me in thanking each and every one of you. But, for now, dear people, he is greif-stricken and hurting beyond description in this period of deep mourning. 

Joanclaire