One of the really GOOD things about our current system is that most of
our ride vets are considered to be friends and confidants to the riders,
dispensing advice in the best interests of the horse. Punitive systems
tend to set up an antagonistic relationship, and that in turn is NOT good for
the horses. Riders in danger of being suspended are more apt to try to
hide problems for fear of getting "kicked up" to that dreaded next
level.
So while this proposal does seem logical on one hand, it has a real
downside of jeopardizing the good relationships that our vets and
riders usually enjoy, and that could be a real loss for the promotion of
horse welfare, too.
