Well, I already replied to this exact same post on the
AERC list, and Howard didn't like my answer there, so I'll rephrase
it.
AERC is about endurance riding. AERC's involvement
and endorsement of the program makes a public impression that the BLM mustangs
would make good endurance mounts. We just got done with a thread in which
we (and Howard quite frequently and vocally) discussed the need for AERC to
investigate deaths and treatments, and to find ways to reduce same. One of
the often-mentioned items was horse selection and horse suitability. So
now, on one hand, Howard would have us trying to educate riders about horse
suitability, and on the other hand, have us merrily embracing an adoption
program that is largely made up of horses not suitable for the sport. I
gave this a label on the other list, and Howard didn't like it. OK,
Howard, I won't put a label on it here, but it sure is strange that you can so
wholeheartedly embrace the death/treatment issue, and then turn right around and
suggest that it is a Good Thing for us as an organization to endorse horses that
are likely not suitable for the sport. I'll let others fill in the blank
here.
As for the lack of suitability of some of your horses for
the sport, Howard, good for you for recognizing that, but again, I'll rephrase
what I said on the other list. Over there, I stated that I didn't feel I
had any like that, other than a couple with physical injuries, and your response
was pretty much, "Who cares?" Well, Howard, the same goes for the lack of
suitability of the ones you have. Who cares, unless you bring them to a
ride? Their existence is not germain to the fundamental conflict here,
which is the fact that AERC is espousing an adoption program of largely
unsuitable horses. We all know that unsuitable horses exist--hey, that was
a part of the whole death/treatment thing. They shouldn't be out there in
the first place. And therefore, AERC should not be endorsing them.
Is that so difficult to grasp? BLM should be seeking partnerships with
sports or activities to which more of them ARE suited. Our three
therapeutic mustangs would make great poster children for BLM. But not for
endurance! And I'll reiterate what I said in the beginning of this
post--AERC is about endurance....
Why are some folks getting so upset about all of this? It seems to
me that BLM is looking for ways to improve the chances of these horses going
to good homes. Those who came up with this idea are right on about
endurance folks being a logical choice. We have some of the best
horseman in the world and it takes a really good one to train a wild feral
horse and make them ride-able.
This is a good thing. It's called a partnership for a reason.
We benefit by aligning ourselves with BLM concerning trails, which, in case
you haven't noticed, are kind of necessary to put on an endurance ride.
They ask, from us, to try and place a few of their horses into good
homes. Hey, you don't have to buy a raffle ticket. And, if you
win, you don't have to actually take home a horse you do not want. If
you're so against the program then don't buy a ticket.
I'm a little wacky when it comes to horses. I feel that every horse
on earth deserves to live with someone who will take care of them.
Radical, I know, because there are those who think superior breeding is
the only thing that counts. I disagree. I think what is more
important is what is inside one's own heart, their love for horses and
the desire to put the needs of a fragile creature ahead of their own. If
we, as horse owners, don't take care of them, who will?
The thing is, why is it all about endurance anyway? Don't some of
you own horses that you would never consider entering in a 50 or 100
miler? I own three that I would not run in endurance, ever. It
doesn't have to be entirely about the sport, does it? Can't it, for
once, be about the horse? Someone has to own these horses unless we plan
on slaughtering all of them. Why can't it be an endurance rider?
No one is forcing you to do anything here. We need to hook up with as
many agencies as possible to survive, and BLM is a good choice, no matter how
you feel about their program.
I think it's an interesting and courageous idea. Hey, if the riders
don't like it, it won't work. No one will buy a raffle ticket or take
home one of these horses. My guess is, some of these honorable creatures
will find homes. I've seen too much heart at our rides for it to turn
out any other way.
