Re: RC: Do I encourage her to go on?

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/16/99 11:06:16 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
guest@endurance.net writes:

<< Finally - here is my question:  should I have encouraged my very 
competitive horse to GO and keep up with the other horse=
 s who left us?  Where her adrenaline and competitive spirit alone would have 
kept us going...  Or did I do the right thin=
 g and let her eat all that she wanted and knowingly taken the chance at not 
completing?  >>

First off, I think you did the right thing by letting her eat and drink.  
However, even though she seemed sluggish, with all other parameters looking 
good, I don't think I would have pulled at that point.  I can't really 
second-guess that one, not being there in person and not knowing the horse, 
but at the end of the second day of competition, she was likely tired, and 
had just cooled down and needed to warm back up again.  I would at least 
start out, and then turn around and come back if she didn't settle back into 
her regular way of going.  Back to the eating and drinking--on the trail, I 
don't like to just STOP and eat, but rather amble and eat, so that the horse 
never really cools down entirely.  I'm not sure from your description how 
stationary you were while you were letting her eat her fill.  

BUT--the bottom line is that you are on the right track, trying to do what is 
best for your horse, and THAT is the most important thing of all.

Heidi


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