ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: [endurance] Chondroitin Sulfates and MSM

Re: [endurance] Chondroitin Sulfates and MSM

Samm C Bartee (bartesc@mail.auburn.edu)
Sat, 4 May 1996 18:13:24 -0500 (CDT)

Kat, I realized that when I wrote that to you that you would probably
mention a few things of that nature. I want to take this time to state
my feelings on why *I* use Cosequin and why I don't think I am asking my
horse to do something that will cause his untimely demise.
When I first got Revel, I resisted riding him. I had a mare that was
much more comfortable and very nice to rate and ride. Revel was a butt,
but with many LD miles, I grew to love him, his heart, and most of all
his very stubborn personality. He is very competitive, and loves to go
to the rides. In '93, I decided to do open only, and succeeded in
completing 575 miles. To some that may not seem like much, but to us, it
was wonderful. We also completed our first and only 100. It was a fairy
tale year, and I wound up 2nd heavyweight in the South East behind the
very talented rider Claude Brewer. What a year!! And all of that on an
Appaloosa with an attitude from hell!!
Then the bomb. He was diagnosed with DJD, a form of arthritis in his
fetlocks. I hoped against hope that Adequan would help, but didn't. I
retired him to the life of a baby sitter gelding, and he was miserable.
He did not like getting left at home. You would have had to be there to
understand what I am talking about, but suffice to say that it was pretty
obvious that he was one unhappy camper. I was not very happy either. I
thought that all would be well with my new horse, but we never really hit
the groove. It just wasn't working.
I learned about Cosequin from Reid Hanson, a vet with Auburn University.
I thought that maybe this would at least enable me to be able to ride him
for pleasure--tho he is not a pleasure to ride pleasure!!--and maybe get
him out for a few LD rides during a year. Much to my suprise, he went
sound. Not only in the pasture, but with flexion on concrete, in
circles, etc. I took him to several LD rides, and actually won BC at
one. This with 10's on gait. I have now taken him to three open rides,
with similar results. We are not racing, but riding to complete. I only
started one race in which I ever tried to win, and that was '93. In 6
years, that is the only time I ever raced for first. In the last open
ride that I took him to, we wound up 8th place. I wasn't trying to place
that high, but with only 13 starters, it just happened. We stood for BC
just for the sake of standing, and imagine my surprise to learn that we
again got 10's on gait and quality of movement. No, we didn't win BC,
but the 2 10's were a win to me. I think that if I were doing something
to make him lame, or something that was detrimental to his health that
the vets would have picked up on it by now.

I am sorry, but I am not the type to person to run out and buy a horse
just for the sake of having a horse to race. I am limited finacially and
emotionally with the number of horses that I can have. I have room for a
few, but I am not the type to not keep a horse because he may not be
young enough to go and win. I invest not only the purchase price and the
upkeep, but also the emotional ties that go into putting hours and miles
in the saddle. I can go and work rides, which I frequently do, but I
enjoy riding, and Revel enjoys being ridden at the rides. You can see it
in his attitude and his step. If I thought for one minute that I was
doing something that would cause him harm, I would quit, and have done so
before. Yes, I have spoken at length with veterinarians, other
competitors who have horses with the same problems, etc, and they all
agree that if Revel's problem were getting worse with the riding, that it
would show up. I have him vet checked by the Auburn University
veterinarians quite frequently, and I *always* inform ride vets of his
problem. In addition, I watch him trot and if I feel that there is a
problem, I will pull him before the vets have a chance to pull him.
I am against drugging horses for any competition, but I am not against
doing something that will give me my horse back. It does seem that too
many people are always looking for the perfect horse out there, but it
has been my observation that there are precious few that would fit the
mold of perfect in every way. I also use Sport Medicine Boots on him
too, and don't feel the least bit guilty about that. It could be said
that to use the boots is rather like a drug, since he might not finish
without the support. I do the best that I can for my horses, and that
includes any support, whether it be Cosequin for the arthritis, Cosequin
for the young horse to stave off the formation of problems, Boots for a
weak area such as interfering, good feed, grass , and hay, supplements to
make sure that they get the amt. of vitamins and minerals that they need,
tack that fits properly, and lots of love and affection.
I believe that all of us in endurance do what we can for the horse. If
some think that Cosequin, Adequan, Dynamite, ABC's plus, or boots of any
sort are things that shouldn't be used, then by all means don't use them,
but I will as long as it is legal, and I think that it will help my horse
have as good a day as possible, and not sufffer any for the abuse that I
have exposed him to. Lets face it, all endurance horses are subjected to
rough terrain, hot or bad weather, etc.
Sorry for the long post, but it seems that some people get a bit carried
away as to what is good and bad for the horses. It is up to all of us to
do what's right, and with very few exceptions, I think we all do. I know
that Revel would rather go to a ride than stay in the pasture with the
babies, and he would rather be trotting down a road than walking down a
grassy lane being bored to death by a bunch of slow moving pleasure
horses!!

APPY TRAILS

SAMM C. BARTEE
SIR REVEL--only 120 miles to 1000
MOONLIGHT JET--just getting started at 16