Ridecamp: [RC] in response to Howard re horse deaths

Howard Wrote:   <<<<Tom would talk in terms of "winning"=
 is everything and most important.  But, he also did bring out the fact t=
hat some riders not only get consumed with winning, but they feel they mu=
st complete a ride, at all costs because of the AERC slogan.  This is whe=
re some endurance riders get into trouble.  They must complete the ride; =
otherwise, by the very term "to finish is to win," not finishing means yo=
u and your horse are both losers.>>>

I honestly do not think that in most (or any) cases that it is riders making
the decision to continue if their horses are not able - the point of having
veterinary judges is to pull those horses - and they do, without hesitation.

In my experience, the horses in trouble are the ones racing near the edge
between holds, come into a check and are pulled, then go on to develop
problems related to why they were pulled.

The horses and riders trying to complete are usually going slow enough to
accomplish that feat safely.  I have seen very few metabolic problems in the
horses whos riders are out there to finish - it is usually in the horses who
are ridden by those who want to win, and would rather not ride to complete
if they can't be top five.  JMHO.

Laura Hayes  AERC# 2741



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