|
>This really illustrates and highlights the belief that endurance, at
any level, is best governed and monitored by folks who actually have ridden
horses long distances, in varied conditions, for whom the phrase "welfare of
the horses" isn't just public relations-speak Then, working with endurance
experienced vets, perhaps we all could benefit..
Frank, I think you hit the nail on the head here. The origins of
these problems start clear back with accepting bids for the WEC or WEG in the
first place. When you have an OC that has a history of putting on
successful endurance rides to begin with, you have a better chance at having a
good course design, good working relationship between OC, technical delegate,
and veterinary commission (all keeping horse welfare in mind), and an overall
much better chance at success (read quality event with healthy horses at the
end). Having chaired the OC for the 1997 PAC, I was really proud of the
good relationship that we had with our technical delegate and veterinary
commission, and we all worked hand in glove to evaluate the course, determine
appropriate and safe times at the veterinary checks, etc. Knowledgeable
people CAN foresee to some degree where problem areas might be on a given
course--we had one leg on our PAC that was longer and more difficult than made
me comfortable, but terrain prevented us from putting an extra veterinary exam
in at that point. However, the technical delegate and I brainstormed
possible ways to cover the contingency of horse problems in that area, and came
up with a radio checkpoint at that area and "horse ambulance" coverage to that
area should the need arise. Indeed, we had one horse get into trouble on
that stretch (as well as an injured one), and thanks to the radio
communications, were able to get a treatment crew onsite promptly to stablize
the horse until he could be safely walked down to the horse ambulance (another
couple of miles down a dirt road). By being honest about possible trouble
spots on one's course, one can make the effort to plan for problems and at least
help to stack the deck toward an acceptable outcome. (Had that particular
horse had to proceed down the trail to the next veterinary check, I'm not at all
sure the outcome would have been a live and healthy horse.) As it is, we
ran the course with 7 veterinary checks, and I can't think of any of those
checks that could have been safely eliminated. By the same token, the last
two PACs have been quite successful as well, and have been run by OCs with
endurance experience and with (at least I haven't heard anything to the
contrary) the OCs, tech delegates, and veterinary commissions "all on the same
page." This CAN be done, and selection of bids from OCs with the
experience to do the job is at the root of it.
I
agree with Steph that leasing is an issue, and it relates also to qualifications
for horses from all countries--bottom line, we should have experienced riders
and horses at events of this level, not folks out doing their first 100's.
Even if one wants or needs to lease a horse, at the level of a world
championship, someone should have the capability to go to where that horse is at
some earlier point and ride that horse 100 miles in competition. Again,
experience....
Heidi
|
