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[RC] 30 Min rule - Bruce Weary DC Jim--
The evidence hasn't been boiled down to statistics, but it wouldn't be
hard to do. After reviewing all the official information available
regarding horse deaths in the last two years, there are some interesting
things to note. First, there's been almost no evidence of ulcers found
in all the post-mortems done. No deaths were determined to be connected
to ulcers, even partially. Many of the deaths were either accidents or
unrelated to how the horse was ridden--broken leg, broken back, falls,
CVA's, etc.,. I would have to go to my files and count, but a safe
estimate would be less than three are suggestive of blatant overriding.
The rest are the result of an unfortunate series of physiological
events, some of which we may never understand, that happened in a
variety of candidates, leading to a catastrophic GI event and led to
death or euthanization, and not blamed on abusive levels of exercise.
In a few cases, bringing the horse to the vet sooner may have brought
about a better outcome.
Jim, the hell-bent, rein-slappin', fire-breathin', win-at-all cost,
kill my horse tryin' rider isn't showing up. At least he's not killing
horses very often. He may be out there, and overriding his horse, but
his horse is surviving. Technically. I know this seems paradoxical, but
it's true. And we have a responsibility to move ahead with this
information in mind, not press on with conspiracy theories and
accusations of ineptitude or political malfeasance.
Regarding lameness issues, it's not necessarily true that lameness
doesn't cause horses to die. Chronic lameness is one of the top reasons
horses are euthanized. The horse's useful life may be shortened by how
it is ridden.
Regardless, the concern of the WHC is not limited to horse deaths,
but includes all forms of horse abuse, as well. Overriding and inducing
lameness, or not allowing lameness to resolve fully before the next
campaign, is tantamount to abuse. I was being a little facetious, Jim,
by using your example of three consecutive lamenesses. But metabolic
disorders can occur in series with innocent or unexplainable causes,
too. Barb McGann's story exemplifies that beautifully. How would you
propose we punish her for her struggle with tying up? She doesn't sound
like Black Bart to me. You came forth with an explanation that mitigates
your responsibility in your lameness pulls, in your view. I suggest,
and the evidence suggests, there would often be mitigating
circumstances that would reduce or eliminate entirely the culpability of
the rider in most cases. That is what the evidence is saying. You say
you don't believe that. Now it is my turn to ask you for your statistics
and the information that substantiates your opinion and suspicions, and
why you still feel that a penal system is the answer to protecting our
horses. Let's have none of the misdirection you're accusing me of, now.
What's your evidence? And I don't mean anecdotal.
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