Re: RC: Our every whim (was: WATER WATER...)

[DreamWeaver <karen@chaton.gardnerville.nv.us>]

>I mentioned the fact that ride managers don't "need" to put out
>all that water because the horses don't need it.

Kat mentioned Silver State.  I have a few comments about why there aren't 
more problems on that ride.

Indeed, the spacing between water checks is sparse.

First of all, the ride is at the end of November.  It's basically winter 
(it's not hot).  Secondly, it's the last ride of the season and the 
majority of the riders and horses there are seasoned -- they are there for 
their year end mileage and points.  So most of the people aren't pushing 
hard, and they are on horses that have a great deal of experience and are 
in pretty good shape.  Multi-day riders are more experienced than any other 
group of endurance riders  (just look at how many of them finished Tevis 
this year--and don't forget to look at the juniors too!) <G>

I have done numerous rides where I have been riding slow, and when we did 
get to the water - it was completely empty (desert rides typically have all 
the water supplied in troughs).  I did a ride this year where the first 
water was 17 miles, and the map made it look like 8.  Having done the ride 
before, I knew it wasn't at 8 miles but a lot of the riders didn't know 
that.  For many it was the first ride of the season.  A lot of horses got 
treated after completing the ride for colic (I know at least 4 cuz they 
were on both sides and in front and back of me) -- the ride had less 
(supplied) water out on the trail this year than in previous years which 
also made the problem worse (and it was warm).  This kind of thing is 
totally avoidable, and if people read on ridecamp that horses don't need 
water any more than every 15 miles you are going to end up with a lot more 
problems.  We already have too many problems from not having enough water 
as it is.

I'd also like to point out that unless you have blood drawn on your horse 
you have no idea what his/her hydration level is.  The vets don't even 
know.  If they did, nobody would even be discussing IV's on ridecamp.

Karen