 |
Re: [RC] Announcement from Horse Welfare Committee - rides2farProbably the only way we are going to control speed and the possibility of over-riding is to do away with the rewards for speed. I disagree, but I think we've got to come up with a standard consequence for over riding that is somewhat automatic...to guard against buddyism (new word?). The problem is, we're all friends. I have that problem with my students. My way of handling it is to say, "Here's the rules, here's the consequences. If you break them you did it to yourself. Don't know why you wanted to do that to yourself but you did so suffer the consequences." Now...if our problem is that there are people who are willing to take chances running on the ragged edge because there's profit in selling horses that win...and losing one horse for every 2 or 3 you make is still profitable...how can we make it less profitable? These people are making money by having winning horses. I suggest that a metabolic treatment a vet feels was the result of over riding might have the consequence of that rider only getting mileage for the rest of that season. It also would make it darned hard to get on an international squad with one of your "other" horses. Now...what if I'm a conscientious person and it was a fluke and my horse required massive treatment. Well...I can still ride, and mileage is cool. If I was into a points race too bad. I can back off and with no incentive to go fast do some experimenting around to make sure it doesn't happen again. I don't feel horribly punished...but if I were trying to get several horses names in the standings to catch attention to sell them I'm hurt financially. This should also bar other people from campaigning that person's horses for them. What if I have a horse die from metabollic failure (not from falling off a bluff or something) Your average person would freak. They would probably disappear for awhile, then *if* they came back, come back riding slowly and gradually heal. A rare few will blame the horse, pull another out of the next stall down and go for the win the next week. If losing the horse wasn't enough to slow them down, maybe the idea that if they lose a horse they will be unable to compete for points, and possibly even have a maximum speed limit put on them (to avoid their finishing first even if unofficially to impress clients)A review board could decide length of probation, and monitor future activity. How many "winning horses" can they make and sell during that time? You have hurt them financially, and once their name is "out of style" may be a permanent blow. A reputation is a hard thing to build, but it's twice as hard to *re*-build. What if you're an innocent, a Julie Suhr and lose a horse. First, the initial inquiry may clear you of over riding. Second, past record of good conduct could be used to defend the consequence of being designated as a "completion only" competitor for the year as ample "consequences". It probably would make absolutely no difference to the innocent. Not so much be "punishment" as an automatic fact, a technicality. What if you're someone who just always seems to be at the scene of the crime? Your horses seem to always be dropping dead just to spite you. People who come with you seem to have the same problem. At what point would enough be enough and a person be barred from competition all together? I don't know, but if a line were drawn in the sand, or even better...concrete...I'll bet that person would stop short of it. I keep seeing suggestions to punish abusers that really punish everyone. If you concentrate on consequences rather than rules I think they'll figure out rules for themselves to avoid the consequences. Angie ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|