I believe this is the first time there has been this level of treatment
at the NC. It turned out to be difficult conditions. While "racing"
may not have caused the problem, under adverse conditions, just being
on the trail my be more than a given horse is capable of doing. It's a
bummer but part of the sport is knowing when the conditions are too
much for your horse so can pull and ride another day. There is always
another day.
Truman
Dabney Finch wrote:
I
do agree with Heidi and Ranelle that riders should slow down when it is
hot. Although most of the riders at the NC 100 did, there were some
who were definitely in "race mode" and did not.
But I don't want to see anyone jump to the conclusion that all the
treated horses at the NC were ridden too fast for the ambient
conditions. Not so. I know of at least two very experienced riders on
experienced horses who were riding very conservatively (=back of the
pack) and requested that the vet give their horses fluids after they
pulled just to be on the safe side... I applaud that these riders would
put their horses on the "treatment line" despite the fact that some
other people at the ride (or on ridecamp) might therefore jump to the
conclusion they overrode their horses....
Didn't we have a series of NC rides a couple of years ago to discourage
the "racing," but then that was changed?
-- "It is necessary to be noble, and yet take humility as a basis
"It
is necessary to be noble, and yet
take humility as a basis.
It is necessary
to be exalted, and yet take modesty as a foundation."
