[RC] 100's and pulls/ declines in ride participation - smuncy
I saved this ( draft ) and
decided to send it in anyway - * And please refer to Cindy Collins' post
7/25... about "fast" 100's, easy terrain, FEI requirements....and
add............
How many of those "pulls" that are
listed as 'metabolics ' in 100s' are really found out to be
lameness issues ( later ?.? - are in
fact.?? == I would quess at least 15
- 20 % ) --- a horse with a ' little
tightness in muscles ' , and poor CRI, actually is found to
have back, tack issues, or 'developing' a lameness; ( has been
compensating / hurting ) - that hasn't fully shown ...
lameness, .. yet.(?) .. AND / OR a horse with elevalated CRI, (
? listed as metabolic ) --- shows lameness several
hours,... to next day. But both were "pulled'' as metabolic. ( poor
recovery / or listed as 'early ty - up', even late in
ride. ) ... Lameness.,, not yet
showing,. ,,,, That and those with poor gut sounds and 'either of
above' , allowed to continue slowly / with ' warning ' from the vet, if only doing 25 / 50
;.. .. and on a 100 - vet 'automatically'
"pulls". Just something to consider.. ,, when looking at
statistics.
Most horses can get
though 25 miles, and often 50; even if 'over ridden' or
'A little dehydrated', slow gut sounds; they have a chance to recover;
before they get 'too far behind' , ie. "in trouble", or show signs for
'questionable' / True elimination.'
AND with 100s', I have seen, Vets will
'err on side of caution' ,and "pull". Of course, in
100's, affect, gets cumulative** and sometimes, a horse can't
catch up. [ Don't misunderstand me , I would rather see a horse
pulled, early, .. than in "trouble"!!. The old, "ounce of
Prevention theory, WORTH A POUND OF CURE " ] AND, if a
rider is "experienced" and just 'drags' a horse 'out of
the pasture' and rides conservatively - they can get
through, ... IF ! , they know horse, how to manage / ride
conservatively .*
AS far as declining numbers - I
think # 1 - is most people are too busy with other aspects of
"life" to be able to condition to a 'level' to be able to compete -
"competetively". Therefore, some think...... why bother
entering. ?
Others do not want to take most
of thier vacation time doing rides of that distance, ( especially
if they have family that prefer 'non-horsey' vacations)- depending
on where ride is - can figure on 2 days - if only taking off Fri and
Monday off - and ' a Lot ' more days, if really
have to travel to a ride, ie, traveling east to midwest, etc.
. consider get horse rested before and after ride. If doing a longer
distance, I would want to arrive day before check in and stay day later,
after ride.... where if doing 50, or less - depending on travel time, may
arrive day before and leave day of ride.? ( Later in afternoon, evening.) There
are not many 100's, that a person can do that way -
IMO,.. IT takes "about" a week - vacation time
getting to ride - relax ( from travel - for horse ), check in day, ride
, recoup, and travel back home.
# 2 -- I think
economics - now, with price of 'everything', especially gas
- along with time factors; listed above. Before,.. couple years
ago, I wouldn't think about traveling hundreds of miles to ride, now.. ??
.. I think about. I have not attempted that many 100's - I did a few, and
can not say, I would not again, ( if I had the horse, who
didn't know how "to limp" at the ' first
opportunity' lol,, .... but I think of a
fellow , who I knew when I asked, ? why he wouldn't
DO 100 ?? ..... He replied >> " If, I can't
have fun in 50 miles / 12 hrs, what makes me think I would have fun on
100 miles / 24 hrs, !. LOL. !! Guess it is just a
..." I want to do it!" sort of mindset. !
The few 100s'
I ; the Horse did.( attempted, couple 100's,), he did not
seem to mind, whether we were out for 100 or 50 miles, ..if I put my
foot in the stirrup - we went down the trail, he didn't care
... It doesn't really require any different equipment, ( just
mind-set* , and ride from 'check to check' , !! do not
veiw as whole ride.), and a crew is really nice! ( almost ! required
).
# other problem, I see
with 100's is -- 1 ) it is alot easier to ride -
50 or 75 miles and get through before / about dark / or just
after, //
and
MAINLY>>>>>>..... getting VOLUNTEERS to help staff the
rides. I say, ( from timers to vet staff, trail makers ) it
takes 2 volunteers for every rider. And for the same reasons
above - time and money = there are not that many
volunteers. AND those that are / were volunteers - are also
riding,,,,,,
Other 'problem' alluded to
is.... "lack of available trail" - not many riders really want to do
repetetive loops, and 'fight' with horse leaving camp. Just an opinion, -
pls save 'flame throwers'.
( as a rider - generally, without a crew, I
appreciated such a trail.)
AERC does need to work on publicity -
gettitng exposure. ALOT of people have NO idea of rides are
held in area, or any other information about rides; what endurance riding is
/ or conditioning for rides- etc,. Whether volunteer needs /
opportunities. Where / what ride is. Controls,
requirements, etc.{ Once I explained
the whole conditioning, metabolics, etc. when no other horse sport is so
specific on the health of the horse and then told her about the people I
mentioned above. She felt much better - Stacy S. -> Many
that are not informed, think we just 'grap a horse' and go ride
25/50/ 100 miles - and think it is 'abuse', til someone explains the
conditioning, vet controls. etc.} This may rest with individual ride
managers in their areas. But maybe, AERC needs to put some artilces in other
publications for horseowners.......as a FYI, or "filler".
