Re: Dancer's Death--Some Facts

["Maggie Mieske" <mmieske@netonecom.net>]

I have been reading this thread with some interest because a week ago I had
a freak accident on Malik riding an LD ride.  It has distressed me so that
I haven't even been able to write about it (except to a few who have
contacted me with inquiries about Malik).  At first I blamed myself and
expected everyone else who heard about it would blame me and after reading
some of these postings, maybe I know why I was reluctant to write about it.
 What happened was this (though at the time I didn't realize the whole
story)...about 4 miles or so into the ride we were riding 2nd and 3rd
behind a TB mare ridden by a vet.  We had passed her once going up a hill
and then she had ridden up behind us, then next to us awhile and slowly
pulled ahead while we visited all the while.  I feel that passing and being
passed and riding next to strange horses is good training for Malik. 
Anyway, this mare has a helluva trot and it didn't take her long to pull
away from us.  About this point at a trot we met up with a patch of deep
sand...Malik started to stumble (I think his brain was in his nether
regions!) but started to pull out of it when suddenly he went right out
from underneath me.  We both went down, of course and before I could grab
him, off he goes after the TB mare.  Jenny went after him on Max and the
vet ahead stopped and blocked the trail.  Malik stopped and Jenny brought
him back.  As she is leading him back, Malik suddenly starts going 3 legged
and the vet yells to stop because he's hurt.  She stopped to help though
this gal is very competitive which I appreciated very much!!  She said he
had bowed a tendon and I fell apart!!  We got a bandana from a guy passing
by and she wrapped his leg with that and Jenny's tube socks.  The vet
continued on and we walked down the trail to a point at which a trailer
would be able to pick us up. (I would like to insert here that my daughter
refused to leave me and continue on with another sponsor...what a kid!).  
Malik is pretty upset because EVERYBODY is passing us...we unsaddled the
horses to settle them into grazing and a "we're done" mode.  Malik wouldn't
be still!!  I was heartbroken.  The ride manager, Larry Miller, showed up
to see how we were and where we were and an hour or so after the accident
the whole cavalry showed up!!!  Nelson, Larry, the vet and our dear friend,
Shannon Weston Wood, who didn't hesitate to hook up her trailer when she
heard.  Fortunately, Nelson brought ice, wraps, vet wrap, you name it....we
had everything the vet needed.  The leg looked better thanks to the quick
thinking of the riding vet (Sara Michelin) and the ride vet, Randy Rice,
said it wasn't as bad as all had originally thought...to make it short,
there was no tendon damage.  What had happened was that Malik caught his
front leg with his hind leg when he stumbled.  Since he goes so wide
behind, he caught it on the outside of the leg.  He had a good chicken egg
when we first wrapped it and it was still swollen though not as badly when
Randy looked at it but we spent several days icing and hosing and wrapping
it, having the bioscan lady treat it and it's almost good as new though we
are taking July off to be safe. One day at a time, one ride at a time!  
Now the weird thing is that we also stumbled the day before on the COMP
ride in deep sand...I KNEW what happened there because I could feel
it....he is still perfecting this huge road trot and just before we hit the
sand the day before he felt as if he were cantering behind and trotting in
front....it just blew his whole scene and his legs didn't know what the
hell to do...we were both unhurt (well, except for pride anyway).  So, when
this happened the following day I am ready to give up distance riding
altogether.  And after reading all these posts condemning Dave for the
death of Dancer, well.....freak stuff DOES happen.  Sometimes, it happens
two days in a row!  Hard to believe!  I have talked to friends I have
ridden with (veterans of the sport) and they do not feel it is a flaw in my
riding ability (which was the first thing I figured was going on) and after
reviewing it all, I am just thankful that we were so lucky.  I am going to
have to accept that shit happens, that I might get hurt and that my horse
might get hurt.  No matter how cautious or careful I feel I am being.  I
know some people perhaps feel we were going too fast...I have really gone
over this in my head ALOT.  I don't have to ask this horse for a thing...he
won 1st and BC at Little Manistee with very little effort.  He had a good
chance of doing it again at Hopkins Creek (at least BC as that TB mare
could haul some butt just trotting!) and I would never have had to ask him
for more than an easy lope and a trot.  As he matures and we perfect our
"form", he is going to be a real contender at the longer distances. 
Actually, in the meantime, I am considering going to Hollywood and getting
my stuntwoman's license so I can learn to fall and get PAID for it!  Those
velcro diapers aren't looking so bad either!!  Ha ha, hee hee!   So, today
I will count my blessings when I check Malik's leg again and say a little
prayer for Dave and Dancer.  I hope I never have to be in his shoes but I
know it is always a risk I will be taking every time I go out on the trail.
 Sometimes when we love so much, we have to accept the pain and grief that
goes with such a great love...


Maggie Mieske
Mieske's Silver Lining
10601 S. Richards Rd.
McBain, Michigan 49657
http://www.netonecom.net/~mmieske
mmieske@netonecom.net

----------
> From: guest@endurance.net
> To: ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: RC:  Dancer's Death--Some Facts
> Date: Sunday, July 02, 2000 3:59 PM
> 
> Joanclaire pslj5@yahoo.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 ab!
> out 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 shor!
> tages 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 grief-stricken and hurting beyond description
in this period of deep mourning. 
> 
> Joanclaire
> 
> 
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