Ridecamp: RE: [RC] [DR] WEG deaths

Terre:

You had the audacity to state;

<<< And here you will have a large number of (mostly)
middleaged men
(sorry guys!), all of whom are accustomed to power, none of
whom want to be told what to do.>>>

This is so prevalent in endurance competition today that it
is pitiful. I must also say there are some, not as many but
some, from the distaff side as well. I could spin a few
stories about this that would curl your hair. Sorry to say
that it also infests our domestic rides as well.

Bob

Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID

-----Original Message-----
From: terre [mailto:tobytrot@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, October 06, 2002 6:26 PM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DR] WEG deaths


	Given what we have heard, and knowing that there is no such
thing as "the
whole truth", here is how it seems to me: these horses were,
of course, the
victims of human ego.
	It's not just the checks; there are many rides (including 1
day 100s) with
long loops and full checks.  It's not just the 'leasing'
thing; many of us
have ridden other people's horses, or allowed other people
to ride ours
that take excellent care, and many other WEG horses were
leased (I am sure
that 99.9% of our crashes at home happen with the owner in
the saddle).
It's not just the course or the weather; other horses
finished in good
shape on that course, in that weather, and with those holds.
It HAS to be
the "human factor"--which often boils down to "ego".
	The ego of the riders, but also of the owners who lease
horses out for a
level of competition for which they are not adequately
prepared.  But I
don't think it stops there.  I think there are also 'egos'
in the Ride
Management/Organizing Committee, the FEI stewards, and the
Veterinary
Commission.  I think huge projects of this nature, involving
a number of
committees from various different interests come with
built-in
conflict.  And here you will have a large number of (mostly)
middleaged men
(sorry guys!), all of whom are accustomed to power, none of
whom want to be
told what to do.  No one wants to yield to someone else's
opinion, even if
they suspect it may have validity.  Add to that national
biases and
attitudes: don't you think the Europeans get fed up with
hearing "how we do
it here" from North Americans and Aussies, and knee-jerk
oppose
it?  Certainly, WE seem to have that knee-jerk response to
suggestions
coming from THEM!  And EVERYBODY resents the UAE guys, and
automatically
trashcans any ideas that appear to originate from them! (and
possibly from
the North American vets in their employ).  Riders aren't the
only ones who
want to "win".
	That said, I think the ultimate failure lies with the
riders.  Yes, the
checks were apparently too short for some horses.  The
riders could have
stayed overtime, or taken time to feed on the trail--as Bob
Morris so
rightly stated--(paraphrase, can't find the original)
'Nobody ever FORCES
anybody to override their horse.'  More cooperation between
the OCs/Vet
Committees, tougher qualifying criteria--these things may
help in the
future.  But nothing will ever protect horses (or even
ourselves) from the
effects of the human ego.

terre


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