Re: RC: Ummm,, I'm confused

[BMcCrary27@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/16/2000 6:26:59 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
guest@endurance.net writes:

<< have been reading ridercamp archives and the debate about little boy made 
me wonder: if its up to the parents to decide how old is old enough, why have 
age limits for horses?  shouldn't that be up to the horses owners?  >>

No, because horses can't or don't tell you when the workload is too much for 
them until it's too late, sometimes.  And we are responsible for protecting 
them.  A parent can tell when a child is in pain or is too tired, but a 
horse's instincts will drive him beyond his capabilities.  Most people do not 
die from one instance of exhaustion, but a horse certainly can.  Sometimes 
they die, even when not exhausted.  A horse's metabolism is just very 
different than a human's.

Barbara