Re: RC: Dead/Alive -TEVIS RESCUE Part 2

[Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>]

Wait a minute, Lif
I don't know of too many sports (football, basketball, skiing, race
tracks.......) that don't have emergency services on hand. We are
talking cliffs here. PR??? Surely you jest? This is a sanctioned event
that had recognized risks, not a ride on the trail undertaken by
individuals. What do you think the response would be if there were
emergency services on hand for Olympic Equine or big Cross Country
Events? For endurance, those emergency services would include provisions
for search and rescue--- for horse and/or rider. What would have
happened to Chris Reeves if there were no emergency services appropriate
for jumping on hand? If people are serious about taking this out of the
"back yard", a few friends getting together for a ride category and
making it into recognized international and national sport, then there
are certain responsibilities attached to that. Ask Tom if they would
ever hold a race at Los Alamitos without emergency services available. I
would be very surprised if they didn't have them in Dubai.
I am not an endurance rider myself; however, I sell to endurance riders
and I would like to think that the attitude towards safety
considerations is not governed by PR considerations. If so, why bother
to wear helmets? That does not look as nice as hair blowing in the
breeze. I believe you catch my drift.
Something to think about.

Bette

Lif Strand wrote:
> 
> I don't know of any ride that says they will provide rescue services for a
> horse entered in a race.  I have never presumed that there would be.
> 
> Tevis is a race with steep climbs and that is not a secret.  Accidents will
> and can happen.  I figure that when a person enters any endurance race,
> they should approach it the same way they would a long conditioning ride -
> that is, the person who is on the horse assumes responsibility.  Come to
> the race prepared to help yourself & don't rely on RM to provide a safety
> net.  It says on the Tevis webpage, (second sentence!) "Participants in
> this event do so at their own risk and must pay an entry fee. They must
> also sign a waiver of liability...".  Perhaps Denise's story is a good
> reminder of what "ride at your own risk" means.
> 
> I have to add that I can't think of worse PR for our sport then to have
> emergency services standing by at races.  Lif
> 
> ______________________________________________________
> Lif & Paul Strand  STRAND ENTERPRISES fasterhorses.com
> providing you with alternatives for your life
> Web Page Design * Computer Graphics * Internet Research * Fine Art
> Blue-Green Algae & other complementary health options
> Arabian Horses for Distance Riding
> fax: (561) 594-4609
> 
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
> Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

-- 
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians, Home of 16.2hh TLA Halynov
(yes, REALLY!)
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com