Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

In a message dated 2/12/2003 11:14:25 AM Mountain Standard Time, howard9732@xxxxxxx writes:

> The bottom line is, if there's a problem at a ride, perceived or real, pull
> your horse.


...and TREAT the horse if he needs to be treated, and don't be concerned about "stigma".  
    ...that can come later after the horse is cared for.
    Care for the horse, as Bob states ever-so-correctly, IS the rider's responsibility and STARTS long before showing up to a ride.
    Selecting a horse appropriate for the job is important, recognizes its individual strengths and weaknesses.  
    That is when the first steps are taking to prevent the treatment of horses.
    Then, riding the horse to its level of conditioning and preparedness comes next.
    (Checking the rider's ego is imperative in this regard.)
    Then caring properly for the horse after riding the horse (during conditioning rides and competitive rides) comes next.
    NOW, if something happens and the horse gets in "trouble," by God don't sit around crying about how you hurt your horsey, get help, don't hide it, don't care about the stigma that comes from being an equine dunce and take care of the horse. 
    Being stupid can be fixed...letting a horse die rather than worrying whether people know that you (the rider) are responsible, or even it's something that just "happened" and had nothing to do with overriding, well, letting that horse die when it could have possibly been helped is unforgiveable.
    Whatever helps at rides, i.e., vet checks at the end of holds, CRI's, etc. should be employed and riders need to get a grip and understand that there are some things more important than being fast.
    I have a close friend who is autistic and loves Arabian horses, one day I was talking to him about a horse who died at an endurance ride and he says to me, "Frank, a dead horse makes for a bad ride."
    Truer words.......
        ---Frank