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There are horses that colic daily - a few die. From the work Jim Michell 
did and the mortality rates he had found - there aren't many compared to 
the horse population. The mortality rate of endurance horses (defined as 
death at a ride or within a few days) is a little higher than the 
general population but not alarming so.

Over the past few years we have been running at about 6 fatalities a 
year out of approximately 15000 starts in an endurance ride (50 or 100 
mile event). That comes down to 1 fatality to every 2500 starts in an 
endurance ride or two deaths every 5000 starts.

I went back an looked and scanned the records and it looks like the BH 
(50 and 100) averaged about 35 riders a year - sometimes more and 
sometimes a lot less. That is a total of 1225. Hence the BH has had 2 
deaths in 1225 starts or one per every 612.5 starts. No matter how you 
cut it the BH fatality rate is over 4 times higher than the AERC 
fatality rate for endurance rides. Fatality rates for TB racing run at 
one equine fatality for every 500 starts. That puts the BH over it's 35 
year history to the mortality rate for TB racing.

Could this be a random event - yes, however, it might also be an 
indicator that some issues that need to be addressed. At any rate the 
two deaths is a potential red flag and should be investigated. Before we 
write it off as a "cosmic event" I would expect the HWC will investigate 
it in and orderly and fair manner and give everyone their say. They 
might chose to make some recommendations to the BH ride management 
concerning some aspect of their ride as it concerns the risk our horses 
are being placed under at the BH. That is perfectly a reasonable thing 
for them to do.

I will withhold judgment until this issue is investigated and analyzed. 
I would hope that if there are any recommendations that the BH 
management would do everything in their power to insure those 
recommendations are implemented.

To paraphrase Lisa Salas, when the rider signs up to be John Rambo the 
horse does not volunteer for the same duty. No horse should have to 
suffer in an AERC sanctioned event from the ego of the rider who what's 
to play Rambo be it though speed, distance or "toughness."

I anxiously await the results of the HWC. I think how the BH will be 
judged in the long run is more based on how they respond to this tragedy 
and what comes out of the HWC report rather then emotional defenses and 
testimonials of how wonderful it really was.

I for one am awaiting the HWC's work when all the facts are considered.

Truman


Cindy Collins wrote:
> During the 35 years of the Big Horn 100, there was NEVER a horse death
> until this year.  It is horrible that this happened.  But a few
> non-endurance riders out there with a little knowledge do not need to make
> sweeping statements about a history of horse deaths in our "old fashioned
> rides."  With a few exceptions, the nastiest comments have come from
> people who haven't even done an endurance ride, much less a 100 miler.  I
> try to consider that while I'm reading.
>   


--

“With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things 
and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil 
things, that takes religion.” Steven Weinberg – Nobel Laureate, Physics


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