Truman>
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, I agree somewhat. However, "whatever is ailing him" could be lack of
proper nutrition.
When our endurance partners are were on their own in the wild, they were
free to choose the nutrition they wanted and needed from that available in
their habitat. There was a smorgasbord offered by the earth they roamed.
If they couldn't find what they needed where they were, they could roam
elsewhere in quest of it. With luck and skill, the horse could find
everything it needed in the way of food, water, minerals and "intangible"
nutrients that human science does not, yet, fully understand.
The amount of work they did in the wild was much less than the work they do
for us. We ask them to roam where we want them to go in competition and
training, carrying 165-250# on their backs at the speed we choose
(theoretically). We keep them captive the rest of the time. Then, we feed
them the nutrients we "think" they need. i.e.., more calories, more water,
more salt.
I contend horses need additional "intangible" nutrients as well to perform
the abnormal work we ask. i.e.., vitamins, minerals & traces, essential
amino acids. Now, some nutrients the horse can "stockpile" to be called on
later and some must be made available in a relatively short amount of time
prior to their use. Here is where I have a problem with the AERC drug
rule. Which states:
"13. The integrity Of Endurance Competition requires that the equine is not
influenced by any drug, medication or veterinary treatment. Endurance
equines
must compete entirely on their natural ability. AERC prohibits from
competition
equines who contain evidence of the administration of abnormal substances
or of
normal substances in abnormal amounts (exogenously administered compounds
even if normally found endogenously). Since the complete effects of such
administration cannot be known, the fairness and safety require the
prohibition of such practices."
My interpretation of the last four lines of the rule is as follows: Since
we stupid humans don't know how much of the "intangible" nutrients the
horse needs, nor how often, we will just not allow any of those
"intangibles" in the sport of endurance. Even though, we are asking the
horse to do work that is not "natural and normal" for him and, to perform
such work, the horse probably requires more of these "intangible"
nutrients. IMO this means, we can be fair to all the competitors except
the horse.
I never have thought the rule was clear. In my way of thinking, the last
four lines are convoluted. I don't know of any other sport (human or
equine) which makes the administration of nutrients illegal. Does anyone
else know of any?
So, for now, I guess we'll just have to starve our horses of these
"intangibles".
Linda Van Ceylon
lvanceylon@vines.colostate.edu