Show and Tell

["Kristene Smuts" <Ksmuts@sarcc.co.za>]

Greetings from South Africa!

From my point of view, the issue of dead horses should be discussed, not to lay blame, but for education.  Whether the horse was ridden to death or the death was caused by something else, IMO, should be made known.

As a relative newcomer to the sport - less than 1000 miles - I soak up any information I can.  I read a lot, do lots of research and if a discussion of an incident can go into my knowledge library, then I am grateful.  The subject might be gruesome and we all hate to talk about it, but surely if it is done in a debate fashion where no names are named (undoubtedly the guilty party will be known to somebody) but if that name is kept out of the discussions, the anonymity will remain.

On whether the opinions of newbies should be heard, well, I have seen oldbies do things that make me cringe!  But can I say something about it and possibly show everybody that I don't know what I'm talking about simply because I don't have miles in the 1000's?  I would hope I can, even if I do get corrected for my ignorance.

As examples : the second ride I ever went to when I was researching whether or not I wanted to do endurance, I saw a horse being ridden 50 miles in a chambon!  I didn't know what a chambon was, then, but it didn't look right.

The second example is something I saw recently, where a supposed oldbie was riding a stallion in a mechanical hackamore AND a pelham AND a tiedown.  When I questioned it, I was told that this horse is unmanageable and I should first get facts about riding a stallion before I question things like this.  But guess what?  I DO ride a stallion and I work very hard at good manners.  I ride in a french link snaffle without any other gadgets "for control".  So no, I don't think mileage should be a criteria for voicing an opinion - lecturing no, voicing an opinion, different matter.

There is another instance where I can lay a lot of money on the fact that two horses will be either at the slaughterhouse or dead within another 18 months max.  These kids - one almost out of junior and the other just out of junior - are being pushed by their father who insists on top 10 finishes at least, but winning is even better.  The horses are being conditioned during the week by grooms - 15-25 kms PER DAY! - and entered in rides at least twice a month.  I can already see these horses suffering, but can I say something about it?  When I do, I'm reminded that I'm a newbie compared to them and I shouldn't stick my nose in where it's not wanted.  So do I wait until it's too late?  I'm seeking other avenues to address this, so hopefully I will be able to raise more concern about something like this.

So please, let's discuss the distasteful subject of dead horses so that we can hopefully all learn from it.

As Howard said - I'm smelling of soap already, so I'm going riding now.

Have a great weekend everybody
Kristene