Obviously, long distance horse racing is a sport
with great potential for death and serious injury to the horses and riders.
Everyone should understand and agree that endurance racing needs a lot of
control. Similarly, everyone should agree that a group of horsemen out for a
long ride don't need the controls required in a race. . Endurance Racing is a
strenuous sport that places severe stress on the equine athletes. I
personally believe that horses should race no more than once or twice a year. On
the other hand, I know that horses can ride 30 to 60 miles a day, five day a
week, essentially forever. I believe that the time has come for AERC to
take the middle road and formulate rules to address the needs of both factions
of our sport
I believe that ride managers should make clear to
prospective entrants just what kind of event they are coming to. XP Rides and
Sunrise Ranch Rides emphasize riding over racing. We offer meager awards and
give no recognition to placing in the various divisions. I submit that the ride
itself is the reward. We stress the responsibility of the rider in caring for
the horse and use the services of veterinarians to help the riders get through
the event safely. Our approach has worked well for us in the past and we hope
that it will continue to work for us in the future.
His pre-ride talk must be one of the most interesting ones around.
