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RE: [RC] Rider Drugs - heidiWhile I do, indeed, follow your logic, kat, as one who has to "drug
myself" just to be able to own and maintain horses (and in fact, to
live), I would say that such a rule would legislate the sport right out
of existence.
Not all of the drugs we take are painkillers. I am on
medications for hypertension, which is familial and if left unchecked
could have serious health implications. I have specifically
worked with my doctor to choose medications that are not apt to
interfere with prolonged physical activity such as riding, and quite
frankly, physical activity is part of the control strategy. I
also was diagnosed about a year ago with pretty severe
hyperthyroidism--again, left unchecked that could have led to serious
health issues and/or death. As for painkillers, thanks to some
back pathology, I would probably be unable to feed this brood without
some level of control of inflamation (I am far from pain-free with what
I take, but at least I can function). Given the average age of
endurance riders, I am not alone in this category.
So while our performances are "enhanced" by the fact that with
careful control of our physical limitations we can ride, which we would
not be able to do otherwise, I would submit that if you eliminated all
of us from the sport, most rides would go belly-up for lack of
entries.
I personally am not quite ready to sit home on the couch waiting to
have a stroke.
Heidi
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