Thanks for help/offered help to injured horse at American River ride

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Heather Watson watson1@gv.net
I want to thank all those riders who helped/offered to help Felix and I at the American River ride on the 23rd of April.  He sliced open an artery on the inside of his right feltock on a razor-sharp rock.  It was the same kind of rock we'd gone over a zillion times before without incident.  There was an awful lot of blood, both coming from his leg and left behind on the trail.

Several concerned riders offered me additional vet-wrap to help stop the bleeding as we tracked back toward the last checkpoint to the nearest road for a trailer. One rider in particular, Tom Bowling (ride manager for the Camp Far West ride on Memorial Day), stopped everthing (including all the other riders with him on the single track) to apply a much needed bandage.  Even though we were in a very tight situation (dense with poison oak), Tom helped us without hesitation.

Special thanks to Patty Banneck and Bob Eaton, who offered their services by trailering Felix to the nearest vet check, then to the Auburn Fairgrounds, and were even prepared to take him to a clinic in Loomis.  I can't express how grateful we are!

Acts of kindness such as these really bring meaning to this sport.  In my youth I participated in the show world, and I can definitely say that I DOUBT I would have found the same level of concern and selflessness that I witnessed from these endurance participants.  And I believe that this attitude is prevelant throughout this sport, and is one of its many strengths.

The good news is that Felix is healing well (phew!), and should be back in business in the near future.  So scarey when your friend is in a truely serious situation... and it makes you really appreciate the help of others...


Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp
Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-Ý-