Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Don't be so harsh to judge, and I'm not condoning anyone's behavior.  
Just keep in mind that an over ridden horse can happen to anyone (or  
maybe I should say a dehydrated horse). It happens to experienced  
riders and newbies.

I used to brag that I never saw a horse treated at a NATRC ride, but  
it eventually happened and it happened to a gal that I brought and  
recruited. We rode in separate divisions and I explained everything I  
could but a brain can only absorb so much information at a time and  
lack of knowledge and ignorance played a part. Never did this rider  
willfully or willingly ride her horse to cause harm. But she did and  
didn't even know it as the horse was forward and wanting to go. No  
body knew it until the end of the ride when she went to take the  
saddle off. It took 6 people to keep the horse standing. The ride vet  
was worthless as she flew in from out of state and didn't have a  
medical kit and the emergency vet on call was on an emergency and  
couldn't come to the ride camp. It took hours but we finally got a  
vet to come and give fluids. I felt so bad as I was the one to  
encourage this person to come to the ride. I told her about  
conditioning and training but she thought her horse was in better  
shape then it really was. Is that criminal? I would say it was ignorant.

I also have had two horses treated with fliuds....one ridden by a  
junior with a very experienced sponsor and one with my husband  
riding. Everyone went slow and everyone was experienced. It was hot,  
the horses had heavy coats, there was not a lot of water on the trail  
and the trail was tough. Unfortunately this happens to even the best  
intentioned riders.

If AERC really wants to prevent this type of thing from happening  
then they should require all first time riders to take a class or  
ride NATRC for a while. This particular gal got confused with the  
timing and thought she was behind time and had to play catch up when  
in fact, if she just rode the correct timing she probably would have  
been fine. Yes, even with safeguards and rules in place it can still  
happen. So, what I'm saying is stop the witch hunt.

Lauren


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