Re: Norco RideInjury and NATRC

["Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@cruzio.com>]

All of us are alarmed at seeing sick horses, but  I can't think of any way
in the world for AERC to be able to do anything about (the mercifully few)
horses that do become ill or exhausted on a ride.  AERC has set rules for
the best horse care possible, but its rules also say that the care of the
horse is ultimately the responsibility of the rider.  Unless AERC changes
the format of endurance riding to a metered event, with a set rate of speed
or set times to reach any given point, then the organization cannot control
the way a rider takes care of his horse.  Should there be abuse, of course
AERC will step in with controls, but AERC cannot enforce a minimum time on
any event.  Otherwise, it is no longer the event as we now know it.  I
seriously doubt that riders really want that kind of control in endurance
riding.  There are times when illness strikes the horse of even the most
careful of riders and not due to any lack of attention to the horse.  It
seems that when anything goes wrong, the first cry is "Why doesn't AERC do
something about this?", and should AERC enforce more stringent rules than it
has now, the next cry would be "Too many rules, too many rules!"  Perhaps
the cry should be "Did the rider take as much responsibility as he should
have?"  When all is said and done, things happen sometimes that are beyond
rules and beyond anything a person can do for the horse.  Maybe we should
all stop riding horses; then we won't have to worry, or find someone to
blame.

Barbara

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lauren & Allan Horn" <4horn@home.com>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2001 12:49 PM
Subject: RC: Norco RideInjury and NATRC


> <If this sort of thing scares you,>
> <maybe NATRC is better suited for you.>
>
> Seeing sick horses does scare me. I hate seeing it. I hate seeing horses
> in pain from tying up or colic or convulsing on the ground from heat
> stroke. I see it too often at endurance rides. It should scare all of us
> and I think AERC should and can do a better job of trying to prevent
> most of incidents. HOW? I really don't know and I wish I had an answer.
> I have never seen a horse treated at a NATRC ride that I have attended
> but I have seen MANY horses treated at AERC rides. Something we should
> all think about.
>
> Lauren
> San Juan Capistrano
>
> P.S. Norco was a fabulous ride and I had a great time. Thanks Lynne,
> Julie and the vets and especially to Rebecca and Cindy for all their
> hard work.
>
>
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