RE: RE: THE LD FIRESTORM/SAVVY DUCK

["Bob Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>]

Kathy:

You stated     <<<There are a lot of experienced
riders here that didn't even blink or comment on that because they
know that the vet is there to help prevent bad things happening to the
horse and to educate new riders and remind experienced riders to
pay attention. >>>>

This, to my mind is what the discussion is  all about! I have to
emphatically disagree with your statement.

First, the vet is not there to help prevent bad things happening to the
horse. The Vet is there "to ensure the health and welfare of the horses"
(excerpted from the Vet manual) It is the riders responsibility, "the
competitor is totally responsible for self and mount before, during and
after an endurance ride". (excerpted from the AERC Rules and Regulations
preamble)

Education starts at home before you ever go to a ride. Education starts as
far back as the first time you log on to Ride Camp!

I will agree that the Vet can be there to "remind experienced riders to pay
attention". That is a never ending job.

To depend on the Vetting at a ride to protect your horse is false security.
That is why some of the Vets like Dave get a bit upset with the attitude of
some riders. The vet has a responsibility to ALL horses at a ride not to
singular ones that the rider gets into trouble. The sooner the riders absorb
this the sooner we will have rides free from the necessity of treating
horses.

There are the singular and unusual cases that do occur as Barbara M. pointed
out. These are few and far between. These are not the ones of great concern.

A good philosophy for riders to use is to ride in competition as if there
were no vets available!

Bob Morris






-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Mayeda [mailto:kathy_mayeda@atce.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 9:52 AM
To: DVeritas@aol.com; ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: RE: THE LD FIRESTORM/SAVVY DUCK


I also don't think the Duck is the only one that says that LD can
be dangerous to the horse.  We get that speech here in our neck
of the woods, too.  I always just thought it was normal operating
procedure to give that kind of speech!  There are a lot of experienced
riders here that didn't even blink or comment on that because they
know that the vet is there to help prevent bad things happenin to the
horse and to educate new riders and remind experienced riders to
pay attention.  If new riders are turned off, then yes, this probably
is not the sport for them anyway.

K.

-----Original Message-----
From: DVeritas@aol.com [mailto:DVeritas@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2001 8:39 PM
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: THE LD FIRESTORM/SAVVY DUCK


In a message dated 1/23/01 8:44:26 PM Mountain Standard Time,
dekarab@home.com writes:




.  I just hate to see new riders turned off.



If "new" riders are "turned off" by the remarks of an extremely
competent and
savvy endurance rider and vet such as the Duck, then that very reaction
probably speaks volumes about those riders' understanding of the sport
of
endurance.
   If, on the other hand, they "get it", they will not be offended and
might
even be thankful someone cared enough about the horse, EVERY HORSE, to
share
the insight that comes from seeing the number of horses (over the years)
the
Duck has...the really great athletes, properly conditioned to excel, as
well
as the "backyard horse" whose owner is in hot pursuit of the GLORY to be

found on the endurance trail.
   The last time I looked, most endurance horses are ridden by one
rider...THAT rider is responsible for THAT horse.
   And when a rider loses sight of THAT fact, perhaps they DO need to
seek a
different "hobby" (preferably one in which something won't die or get
permanently crippled due to the overzealous pursuit of a new bucket or
buckle.)

   Frank Solano







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