Perhaps this is oversimplifying but many of these
problems (like in the protests) would be alleviated by one simple concept.
SLOW DOWN until you know what you are doing. I am always amazed to hear
someone bragging that at their (or their horses) first endurance ride they "top
tenned".
Any of our horses could end up with treatment at any
time. I am not throwing stones at anyone who has been in this situation,
because I realize that if you ride endurance long enough, the odds will catch up
with you at some point. We shouldn't attach such a stigma to a horse being
treated that the riders avoid getting help for their horses when they need
it.
I agree that the opportunities for education are
everywhere for endurance riders. However, without common sense on the part
of the rider, education does no good at all. Ya buy 'em books, and buy 'em
books but if they just eat the covers....
I have known several endurance riders who have worked
through a variety of problems with their horses be it lameness or metabolic by
doing SLOW DISTANCE. Their horses have gone on to compete very
successfully. I know of other horses who have found different
careers when the problems persisted and have done very well also.
Either way, if a horse has a problem be it lameness or metabolic, the "cure"
isn't to go out and run his guts out time and time again and just <hope>
that it goes away. That isn't a lack of education, it's a willingness to
risk the horses life for the sake of competition.
Next question--while I don't sympathize much with the lady
in question, she does make a valid point. How do we educate people like
her BEFORE the damage is done? Perhaps we should be dwelling on that one
a little more and on our horror over what can no longer be helped just a
little less. Just my nickel's worth....
Heidi
I would like to put my two cents in concerning
"education" of new riders. I think in the past 10 years the amount
of information available to those just getting starting in this sport is
incredible. The resources available from AERC, internet groups like
Ridecamp, regional endurance clubs, AERC mentoring programs and several
good books on endurance riding (Nancy Loving's book comes to mind) provide
more then enough education if newbies are willing to be educated. In
Southern CA, I even know of two trainers/ranches that specialize in
training/educating endurance riders. They mentor to new riders and will
even guide them through rides. I ride in the same region as the
woman in this protest. I know for a fact that at many of the PS rides
last year one of our regional directors, John Parke, gave a talk to the new
riders after the ride meeting to help "educate" and answer any questions that
newbies might have about endurance riding. I know many new riders took
advantage of this opportunity.....I wonder if this person ever took advantage
of one of John's talks. I think the "education"
is there for those that WANT to learn. How do you spoon feed riders (old
& new) that will not invest some of their time in learning "how
to"? Some people are not willing to take advantage of the educational
opportunities presented and then use ignorance as their excuse when something
goes wrong. I think it takes a lot of nerve to use this as a
defense when a tragedy like this occurs and I have no sympathy for them.
