I have been doing this sport since 1970. We
have always had well marked trails, except for a few, rarely had drag riders,
don't remember any more horse deaths than what exists today, hard rides, easy
rides, rides made tough because of the weather. The rider has always had
all the responsibility for the horse, riders have pushed their horses past their
abilities, others haven't, others come to rides with little conditioning, others
are well conditioned, s**t happens that is no one's fault (RM or rider), but
above all distance riders use their horses.
Jeanie
