Fw: RE: Re: Re: Horses requiring vet care at Tevis

["Sandy Bolinger" <bolinger@bigsky.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: Sandy Bolinger <bolinger@bigsky.net>
To: Bob Morris <bobmorris@rmci.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2000 9:23 AM
Subject: Re: RE: Re: Re: Horses requiring vet care at Tevis


> Bob--I think I agree with you here----especially the part about occasioned
> by a rider's ego etc----I remember when we were new to this spoor t and
went
> to watch the ROC in Shell, Wyoming...Many horses being treated...and these
> were" best in the world" hundred milehorses...and riders. So inexperience
is
> definitely NOT the operative word here...I did it ONCE to a horse...he
> didn't require treatment but I had WAY over ridden him for his
> condition...and in the back of my mind I knew it the entire ride...but I
> kept on speeding along because he acted like he wanted to---but most
> important...I wanted to...my desire to go fast that day over-rode all my
> experience, common sense and knowledge...seeing my horse standing dull
eyed
> and obviously exhausted after the ride made me want to crawl into a hole
and
> die..it's not just the horses you see with their heads drooping to the
> ground and IV bags hanging over them...there are plenty of BADLY
overridden
> ones that don't get treated. Dull eyes, barely picking at their food etc.
> Again---the vets can only go on what they see in a 5 minute once
over...the
> rider is the one out there for hours on the horse...a good example of this
> was another race of champions several years ago in Colorado---One of the
> front runner's horses kept passing all the criteria...but it was obvious
> that the horse was extremely fatigued...somehow his fatigue wasn't showing
> up in his pulse, hydration, gut sounds etc.  The vets did suggest to the
> rider that maybe he slow down or give the horse more time in the
> checks...their suggestions went unacknowledged and the horse crashed BIG
> TIME at the last vet check...Could the vet's have been a bit more
aggressive
> and pulled the horse even though he was passing all stated
> criteria??Sure..Did the fact that they didn't mean that the rider made the
> right decision by going on?? Obviously not....Many of us have been passed
> through a vet check before and opted to pull our horses anyway because
> something didn't seem right...They say the measure of intelligence is not
in
> the kind or number of mistakes we make, but rather in our ability to learn
> from them---In endurance there are really smart riders and unbelievably
> stupid riders. I think any one who consistently  over rides their horse
> should have to wear a sign that says"I am one of the stupid ones"  And who
> gets to determine what horses have been over ridden??Why me of course!:>O
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bob Morris <bobmorris@rmci.net>
> To: <DigDahlias@aol.com>; <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2000 8:41 AM
> Subject: RC: RE: Re: Re: Horses requiring vet care at Tevis
>
>
> > Sorry, but I must disagree with your statement in it's entirety. The
> > intention of having the Vets at the ride is not to be able to treat the
> > horses but to assure the horses are in fit condition to start the ride,
> > continue the ride and to complete the ride in a fit condition. There is
no
> > provision for the treatment of horses with in the AERC Rules and
> > Regulations.
> >
> > There is a provision for the regulation of riders that have horses
> requiring
> > treatment at rides but it is not enforced except at the lowest
> > level.(pulling at a vet check or denial of completion at the finish)
> > Continued incidents of treatment being required could be considered by
> some
> > as abuse. I quote from the AERC Rules and Regulations preamble; "the
> > competitor is ultimately responsible for self and mount before, during
and
> > after an endurance ride"
> >
> > IT IS NOT UP TO THE VET TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HORSE OR FIX YOUR MISTAKES.
> >
> > Yes, there is the occasional crash that is a surprise, but the incident
of
> > treatment is far beyond that parameter at many rides. I venture to say
> that
> > many of the treatments are occasioned by the rider ego and reluctance to
> > admit their ignorance of how the horse is feeling.
> >
> > Flame on, but these observations are based on twenty five years of
> endurance
> > riding with the best(and poorest)of riders in the country.
> >
> >
> > Bob Morris
> > Morris Endurance Enterprises
> > Boise, ID
> >
> > ----Original Message-----
> > From: DigDahlias@aol.com [mailto:DigDahlias@aol.com]
> > Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2000 7:13 AM
> > To: ridecamp@endurance.net
> > Subject: RC: Re: Re: Horses requiring vet care at Tevis
> >
> >
> > I forgot to ad, I totally agree with IV fluids when absolutely
necessary.
> > That's a primary reason we have vets there.
> >
> > Stacey in LA
> >
> >
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