Re: hi tech stuff

[Samm C Bartee <bartesc@mail.auburn.edu>]

I am for pit crews on trail...provided it is reasonable to have them
there. I understand that sometimes, it is not safe to have a lot of crews
out on sections of road.  And let me firmly state....I rarely have a crew
in camp...much less one on a road.  I have been lucky a few times, but not
a lot of times!!  

As for hi tech stuff such as bio scan and all...noooo..I don't think it
should be allowed during competition.  That has to do with the horse and
his ability to be on trail.  At Land Between the Lakes one year, I watched
a horse who had been over ridden and was very close to not completing, get
his completion by the skin of the riders teeth because of a lot of TTEAM
and other maneuvering.  This horses pulse was HIGH for almost the whole of
the hour after crossing the finish line. They FINALLY got him down doing
Belly lifts, ear massages, etc.  I became a firm believer in that stuff
after that.   Oh BTW...not my horse, not my rider, noone I knew at the
time.  I felt bad for the horse.   He was finally deemed my his rider as
"not good enough for endurance" because "his pulse wouldn't come down at
the finish".....HA!  it was probably due to the rider running the snot out
of his horse at the finish.  He has since learned his lesson and takes
good care of his horses now.  
I think being told by my crew or someone elses crew that I am so far
behind or so far ahead of someone is a far different thing than being able
to scam a questionable horse through the vet checks.  

And as to crews:   When I do have a crew...you can bet that they will
offer any horse or rider water, hay, people water, food, whatever if it is
there to offer.  Even if it leaves me with nothing when I get there.  been
there...done that...and I wouldn't have it any other way.  If a horse is
thirsty and needs water, he can have at anything of mine that is there!!  
Hell...I have been in camp looking for my crew and found him helping
someone else!!  It's ok.  I don't mind. They needed the help far worse
than I did at the time.  
I have rarely been refused water or feed at a riders crew stop before. I
have been told to please leave enough for their rider at times, during
very hot and humid rides, but only been told no one time before.
hehehe...THAT rider didn't finish that day.  I guess it was the old "what
goes around comes around" at work for real!!  

And unfortunately, not all ride managers are willing or able to have
water out all the time like you can offer Heidi.  There are several rides
here in teh SE that have longer loops with NO water on trail unless a
great crew happens along.  IN our heat and humidity, I have seen horses in
go out of check in great shape and take 30minutes to an hour or more
longer on that loop due to lack of water.   It does help to have crews out
there sometimes.  I guess it depends on the ride, the RM, and the crews
themselves.  

Thanks for this great dialogue!!  It has been a blast reading all the
answers and such.......Keep it up guys!!!

APPY TRAILS



SAMM C. BARTEE
Auburn, Al.  SE Region
with
COUJUR--I have to carry what?  
B JETS WAR EAGLE--endurance newbie
170 miles and.....almost old enough to go open!
SIR REVEL--what about me?  I want to go!