Re: TEVIS, GUESTS, AND REPLY TO MERRYBEN

["Joan Dowis" <jdowis@foothill.net>]

Nancy,

I believe you will find the treated horses were into Robinson Flat well
before the cut-off times, like 2 hours or more.  The stats will tell, but I
was at Robinson 2 hours before cutoff and several horses were being treated.
These were horses that were ridden way too fast going in.

Joan Dowis

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Mitts" <mitts_n@hotmail.com>
To: <Dekarab@home.com>; <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 8:42 AM
Subject: RC: TEVIS, GUESTS, AND REPLY TO MERRYBEN


> Whew,I think I've finally waded through all the posts in this thread!!
> After all the discussion about how to better "control" riders & avoid
> treating horses, this post brings up an important point---those cut-off
> times early in the ride.
> The reported high number of treatments were allegedly due to an unexpected
> number of back of the pack myositis.
> Several posters here indicated they were riding conservatively & pacing
> their horses well, but due to the long wait at the unexpected VC had to
push
> harder than they felt comfortable with to meet the cut-offs.
> Those that made it had no trouble making the cut-offs later in the ride.
> This is consistant with my experiences at rides with cutoffs. Any little
> delay throws riders off their game plan, and the cut-off throws in an
> artificial obstacle. The technical difficulty of the Tevis is one of it's
> attractions, and sometimes **** happens, tough luck. Hauling 2000 miles
just
> to play cut-off roulette, however, has limited appeal.
> I wonder how many of the treated horses would not have been if the riders
> knew they could continue their own pace?
> So how about relaxing those cut-off times at those early checks,
especially
> when they get changed from trot-bys to full checks? The same thing was
done
> 2 years ago when I was out there, so why not build that time allowance
in??
>
> Nancy Mitts
>
> >From: "guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>
> >To: "ridecamp@endurance.net" <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> >Subject: RC:  TEVIS, GUESTS, AND REPLY TO MERRYBEN
> >Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2000 00:03:53 -0700
> >
> >Debbie Ekhaml Dekarab@home.com
> >Hi Ridecampers,   As far as Tevis and the horse treated at Pacific Slab,
I
> >would hope riders would prefer the Vet to treat the sick horse first.  If
> >it was your own, I'm sure (hope)you would want it that way. I am also
> >amazed at the people who are not present at events that are quick to
flame.
> >  I do have to disagree with Merryben on a point though "When 20 or 30
> >riders come in at about the same time, you do have a long line. Deal with
> >it."  I did deal with it.  Along with other things that were promised to
be
> >delivered at this ride that weren't.  I figure when I pay that much money
> >to do a ride, it is up to the management to provide what was promised.
> >There was not enough Vet staff. Period.  It was compounded by the fact
that
> >this check was changed from a trot through to a full check. The vet
decided
> >too many horses were not looking good and changed it.  Great!!  These
Vets
> >really cared about the horses.  This is a good thing.  I don't know
> >Merryben other than to read her column in Endurance News (which I do
enjoy)
> >so I'm not going to flame her.  I will assume she has ridden Tevis.  I
will
> >further assume she was at Pacific Mine to witness what was occuring there
( 
> >I think she was).  To say "if you were riding to the cutoffs, you are 
> >simply riding too slow" is unfair.  You have 24 hours to finish.  No one 
> >but the rider can judge their horse.  I was 1 hour ahead of the cutoffs (as 
> >recommended at the pre-ride meeting)I never planned on riding my horse any 
> >faster, because I knew we could finish. I have heard many stories of people 
> >doing Tevis and coming home with injured horses or never doing another 
> >ride.  I admit I'm one of those sappy women that really loves and cares 
> >about the animal that is going to carry me 100 miles.  My goal was to come 
> >
home not only with a buckle, but with a sound horse.  Most importantly
> >however, was to have a horse that has a good attitude at our next ride
> >  he didn't have the stuffings ridden out of him!
> >Yes, some people ride slow and don't make time cutoffs, but please don't
> >lump them in with people who don't make time due to circumstances totally
> >out of their control. I didn't accomplish all of my goals at Tevis,  but
2
> >out of 3 isn't bad.  As far as I'm concerned, it was the most important
2.
> >You can figure out which ones.  They'll always be buckles, but I only
have
> >1 horse, and he's alot more important that a piece of metal.  Debbie
>
>
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