Horse Dying at Endurance Ride

["Corbelletta, Antonio" <Antonio_Corbelletta@affymetrix.com>]

I just can't believe that:  1. someone do this to a horse(I guess I should
not be surprised) and 2. that the ride vets did not see this coming?  I
mean, come on, the objective criteria looked good and the horse just died?
I think that someone messed up big time and I mean not just the idiots that
were competing.  

Maybe all the facts are not in.  But it seems to me that it is time that the
endurance community take a stricter approach with these types of folks.  If
we don't prevent this, I am sure that the animal rights people will be more
than willing to put a stop to it.  I don't think that any of us will like
that solution.

In California there is a law on the books that states as follows:
California Penal Code Section 597
"597. Cruelty to animals. (B) Every person who overdrives, overloads, drives
when overloaded, overworks... any animal... is, for every such offense,
guilty of a crime punishable as a misdemeanor or as a felony or
alternatively punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony and by a fine of not
more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000)."

Maybe if a one or two of these hot foots were to face this charge maybe they
would at least think about it next time.  

Also, if they did not get vet. help/treatment is this a case of the folks
who owned the horse not having the money to treat the horse?  I get real
worried when I hear folks complaining about the cost of entry fees for
endurance events(which are real low compared to other horsey events).  I
always think that if you have a hard time coming up with the entry fees,
what would happen if the horse gets sick or hurt?  Maybe this is a case in
point...

Tony C  (who is a little disgusted right now)