Lauren asks, ""Where
does one take on some accountability and responsibility for their choices and
decisions?".
Good question Lauren. See if anyone on the board
can answer that one. (stirrrring)
I can't comment on the Big Horn ride but Dr. Jisha
has a very valid point. Expecting riders to "suck it up" for tough rides is just
dumb.
If PEOPLE want to "suck it up" and enjoy that kind
of mentality, go RUN the TEVIS or OLD DOMINION. Because if you RIDE it, your
HORSE is the one SUCKING IT UP, HELLO?
Years ago we had thousands of workers die every
year because they couldn't "tough" out the working conditions. We don't do that
anymore, and with good reason. It was cruel and became a liability to the
employer.
Her point, and that a many other posters
(including me) is that we can have a challenging ride without compromising
safety of the HORSE.
Some of you appear to forget that this sport is all
about the HORSE. What is in the best interest of the HORSE!! Not you the rider.
If the ride is exceptionally hard, and RM has you
do loops maybe repeating one or two, so that you can come in to see the vet
who has access to his or her truck with all the necessary equipment in case of
an emergency, WHY ON EARTH WOULD ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT?
YOUR ability to RIDE a tough trail may not coincide
with your HORSE'S ability to be ridden on that trail. If you want to be RAMBO
out on the trail, have at it. But why should the HORSE??
Back to Lauren's question "who is responsible?" It
depends on who your attorney is. Ooops! Wrong topic.
We ALL have a responsibility to do what is
right for the HORSE. RM should make sure that the trail is safe and has some
back up plan for emergencies for the HORSE and rider. Vets should monitor horses
very closely on these "tough" trails and not be caviler in their assessments.
Just because our rules say a horse can go out with a grade 1 or 2 lameness
(which is stupid imo) doesn't mean they should. And riders, you need to consider
in all your wisdom and expertise about YOUR HORSE, what would be in his or her
best interest for that day, for that ride.
I don't think that is asking too much and can't
imagine anyone would.
At the end of the ride, we should all want the same
result. Not the beauty and challenge of the trail, not the camaraderie of our
riding buddies, not the goodies that come after the ride but the fact that we
have a SAFE AND SOUND HORSE! Your points, your mileage and the fact that YOU
came through a tough ride won't mean a damn thing if your horse comes in
just barely passing the final vet check. That's when "To Finish is to Win"
becomes a load of crap.
Now I am NOT saying we ask too much of our equine
partners on a challenging ride. If the HORSE is well PREPARED for the task
at hand, all should go well. But if something does go wrong, and the other
safeguards are not in place then that is just plain cruel to the HORSE. Wouldn't
you agree?
It is not about what YOU want people, (loops, no
loops, drag riders or riders that aren't a drag ;) but about what brings
our HORSES in from the trail safe and sound. If you come into camp with heat
stroke, a really upset stomach requiring surgery or even a heart attack,
(Lord forbid) YOU have a good chance of survival. Not necessarily so for our
equine partners. In or out of our control, we still have to do what is best for
the HORSE.
That is all we can do and anything less is just
plain cruel.
