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RE: [RC] New Rider Proposals (how new is new?) - Karen Williams<<"Off" as in lame? Or "off" as in not doing right???>> Off as in not doing right. No sign of lameness or distress -- just a change in attitude. I suspect he pulled a chest muscle the night before when he got tangled up in his blanket. He was sore in the chest during the vet check. Ok -- not metabolic, but my point is that if you know your horse you know when something is "not right". The signs may be subtle, but they are there. Also -- not every horse is perfect. They may have conditions that under normal circumstances would never affect them. You take them to a ride where the physical and stress levels are much higher and they crash. Maybe in order to protect horses we should just abolish any activity that induces stress? ********* <<Most folks who have owned horses all their lives, but have not been involved in distance riding, only know to read and understand the basics, usually in regards to a colic type situation.>> You're kidding, right? Are you saying only experienced distance riders know how to read their horses? :-0 ****************** <<I wonder how many folks feel this way towards NATRC or the other competitive trail riding organizations, but have never actually competed at a ride?????'>> I did a few NATRC rides over 20 years ago. You couldn't get off and walk down the trail, you couldn't stop within two miles of the finish, you got judged on how well you camped and how clean your horse was. The "experienced" riders I was with (who were introducing me to the sport) galloped (not cantered) for at least 10 miles and then sat outside the 2-mile limit until the horses quit heaving. I sure learned a lot from that! Karen Williams Spotsylvania, VA www.mattariver.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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