Tammy,
You are
right, it should be enough just have a good time. But it is not.
If you think about it, the message in endurance is “to complete”. It starts with an AERC message “To
finish is to win”. In our region
there are 5 awards based upon consecutive completions, if you are pulled you go
back to zero. There are no awards
based upon good horsemanship. The
message is strong to new riders coming into the sport. Completion, completion,
completion. AERC puts out bumper
stickers that say “To finish is to win”, they do not put out stickers that say
it is ok to pull.
If as an
organization you promote completions as success, then it is only logical to
believe that getting pulled is a failure.
In my opinion, a RO, FTC, (Ride Option, Fit to Continue) option would
lessen the negativity attached to voluntary pulls on horses that are “fit to
continue”.
I happen
to think if you got a RO pull for “I know my horses, and this wasn't a day to make it work for
50 miles with that horse that day. “ that is great. That is what I have been pushing
for. Up here that
would not have been a RO, but a metabolic since it was horse, not rider
related. You made my point. Thanks.
Tom
P.S. My wife had exactly the same happen
to her, it was totally voluntary, the horse was fit to continue, and she was
given a Metabolic Pull.
-----Original
Message-----
From: Trailrite@xxxxxxx
[mailto:Trailrite@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002
10:16 AM
To: bdci@xxxxxxxxxxx;
ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: steph@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] RO, Fit to
continue
In a
message dated 11/10/2002 9:57:08 AM Pacific Standard Time, bdci@xxxxxxxxxxx
writes:
A
rider/horse should rewarded for making
the right decision, not punished for having a pull and less horses would be
put in danger.
Tom
I was just talking about this overall attidude with a young rider. Why do
others feel to be pressured into completing a ride? It's because of other
riders watching, talking and gossiping about the pull.
So what if you have to pull or find out
your horse is off a little when it cools down at a vet check. PULL IT and
be happy about taking good care of your horse. I just did a RO yesterday
at the Coso ride. Never made it to a vet check. I just turned around and
called it a day. I know my horses, and this wasn't a day to make it work
for 50 miles with that horse that day. If your going to do a lot of
miles, guess what? Not all days can be good days, and that's a
fact. Ride and have a good time.
Thanks,
Tammy Robinson
Trail-Rite Ranch & Products
18171 Lost Creek Road
Saugus, CA 91390
661/513-9269 or 713-3912
www.Trail-Rite.com (New Up Dates!)
