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[RC] Competitive Trail Riding horses treated? - rides2farI think that the reason you often see horses not "built to do the distance" give a CTR a try, is they are looking for something else to do with their horses, rather than go around in circles in an arena. I Let me restate that. I'm not suggesting that NATRC (that's the only CT I've been exposed to) horses are "inferior". There are definately some darned good ones. I was trying to point out that their general population of entries may be at a disadvantage as compared to endurance because the people with borderline extreme muscling horses choose them. So, though we may ride them faster, the fact that they might have more horses predisposed to problems may bring the stress level overall closer together. Is that clear as mud? :-P t is very > rare for a> first time, or new rider to try the Open division. So, if an endurance rider crosses over is it allowed to start in open? Isn't that around 7mph? In my years around distance rides, I have seen very few treatments of horses> at NATRC rides, and have not personally known of any that died. I'll bet you most endurance riders not sitting at their computers have not known of any personally that died. Like I keep saying...I've only known one in 16 years. If AERC wasn't publishing it, and everyone on the internet wasn't screaming it, I'd think it never happened either. As for treatments. When I really think about it, the slackest vetted ride that I go to seems to have the fewest treatments. (none usually) I just wonder if one of our really experienced vets from the SE had been there if they'd have seen one they wanted to treat. I think our vets have gotten very aggressive about treating...though it looks bad it is good for the horses. Maybe none of the NATRC horses could use it. I doubt the NATRC vets see many crash...but if they *did* see a few crash I wonder if they'd decide to treat others more often "just in case". I've been surprised that the same vets don't seem to vet the 2 sports. I remember one of our endurance was not happy when vetting the NATRC National Championships when it was held here. I don't think he & their vets had the same theories. They ought to have a forum with the vets from the 2 sports at the convention and compare notes. And Angie, from your posts, you have been around a few NATRC rides it seems,> volunteering, and it is folks like you that these riders could use to talk> to about distance riding. As you know, volunteers are often hard to find. I> would love to see some cross over between CTRs and endurance, swapping> volunteer duties if they don't compete at both sports. Not nearly enough to speak with any authority. Maybe 5 ever and it's been several years. They may have a whole new sport going for all I know. I don't mind helping them out but their rides tend to be when I'm doing a ride somewhere else. They feed us and often give us a little gift. It is good to "visit" with each other. They seemed to have a good time with each other and their horses, but when they (not the local CT people who know us) heard I was an endurance rider...I don't know...maybe they feel defensive or something. They tended to talk down to me. They assume that if I do a 5 hour 50 it's because I don't know how to rate my horse. Heck no. I MEANT to go 10 mph. The ones on the less conditioned horses were appalled that we would ask that of a horse. I knew that at my horse's conditioning level he was doing his 10 mph easier than their poor horse was doing his 5mph. I may be very behind in my perception of their sport...but they were very behind in their perception of ours. One lady had *really* nice horse with a rock bottom pulse that was clearly running at about 25% capacity. When I checked him I said, "Wow, he'd make a great endurance horse", which I meant as a compliment. She acted offended and said, "Well he *won't* be. I'm not into that!" They were still picturing the skinny horses of the 1970's and "sound at a walk" completions. If CT *miles* counted towards endurance career miles I would consider doing them. I want all those miles that I do anywhere in one lump, but I doubt I'd worry much about scoring. My problem is I'm conceited. I don't really *care* what their judge thinks. I think I know more than they do so why should I? >eg< 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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