Water Locations

[Jim Beidle <beidlej@yahoo.com>]

O.K., I admit to being new to this sport. I've only
been involved these past two years; this is my first
year of competition. Last year I went to several rides
as crew. On the other hand, I had been involved with
training people for the toughest competition of
all--war on the ground--for about 20 years prior. I
think I understand some of the mindset...

That being said, I think Steve brings up a valid
issue. "Should water availability be regulated" merits
discussion. I feel that Bob makes some valid points. I
agree with some of his dialog. Responsible ride
managers have provided adequate water at the rides
I've
been to; in fact, at Santiam in August, additional
water points were established when it was apparant
that weather and terrain could put horses in danger of
metabolic problems. Perhaps adequate water points and
the distance between vet checks should be more of a
guidline than a regulation. Ride managers are
presumably the people who understand the local terrain
and weather best, and should therefore show proper
judgement as to when horses should water, when they
should be vetted, etc. If they prove a lack of
judgement, then I think many folks will vote to attend
other rides that weekend with their feet, hooves,
whatever.

I said I was with Bob on most things. I admit that his
attitude, the "hoo-ah, hoo-ah" crap irritated me. I
saw enough of this tougher than thou s**t in the Army
to fill me up for life. The availability of crew is a
potential safety factor for the horse. While I grant
that I haven't been to any of the 'big' rides, I've
yet to see Bob's exaggerated view of the crew take
place. The largest crews I've seen in action has been
five people for six horses in two groups (50 mile and
100 mile). Two of those five were greener than grass,
and didn't do much more than hold the horse while
otherwise trying to stay out of the way. One of the
crew was busily treating a rider for heat injury--the
riders first 50, and I recall she finished well. The
two remaining experienced crew were sponging horses
along with the riders. Everyone chipped in to vet
through. No masseuses, no farriers, no blow driers.
Incidentally, it wasn't my group--I was crewless.
Maybe I'll see one of Bob's cavalcades if I'm around
long enough.

I've heard and read about the old days. It seems to me
that, from what I've heard and read, there were many
more problems with metabolic and lameness pulls in the
Seveties and Eighties than there are today. That we
know more about our animals than we did then is
apparant. Perhaps having a crew is less of a comfort
issue and more of a safety issue. I am firmly on the
side of safety for horse and rider, and I don't like
hearing "hoo-ah" BS about how the old days were
somehow better, even though there were more injuries
to horses and riders. 

In the Army, we knew our job was stay alive and kill
or incapacitate more of the enemy until he gives in.
Training to do that is every bit as tough and
dangerous as participating in an endurance ride. The
fundemental realization is that soldier safety comes
first--you can't win if you are your own worst enemy.
Motivated--highly. Dedicated--truly. Safe--imperative.

Gripe all you want; the safety of our horses and our
riders--the troops of endurance--comes first. We do
things this way now because of hard-learned lessons
from the past. Not because the past was better. Right
now I don't think there's a need to regulate water
points since the ride managers have generally shown
good sense about their placement. If for some reason
that changes, then we should consider it.

Final word from this soap-box of mine: Don't diss the
crew. We work hard to ensure the safety of our
charges, especially once that DIMR sets in. Having
ridden crewless this year, I can appreciate their
efforts even more. Thanks to all those who've held my
horse while I had to run to the porta john, rifle my
ice chest or whatever.

Jim Beidle
(Yeah, go ahead, flame me. But I'm still right and I
can still ignore you. BE SAFE!)

Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2001 10:33:56 -0600 
From: "Bob Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net> 
To: <sshaw@pacbell.net>, "Ridecamp"
<ridecamp@endurance.net> 
Subject: RC: RE: I'm Back..... 


Steve:

While your intentions are, no doubt, of the best and
are considering 
the
welfare of the horse, perhaps it might be of interest
to investigate 
this
proposal more fully.

Let us look at the current record of endurance
competition. I am only 
going
to use general "approximate numbers" here due to the
research time that
would be necessary for actual full detail.

Over the past 20 years we have averaged about 500,000
miles of 
competition
per year. This amounts to some place around 10,000,000
miles of 
competition
completed with minimal metabolic problems and
extremely minimal 
fatalities.
I would say fewer problems than in comparable human
competition. With 
that
record, is a rule change warranted?

Then we look at the FEI requirement, and I presume
that is what you are
thinking about. Article 815 states "No less than one
water point must 
be
provided in all cases every 10 km. (6.25 miles)" Now I
am willing to 
bet
this FEI regulation is very often violated as in the
US this is often 
very
impractical as well as being damn near impossible.

OK we now look at the proposition made by Steve <<<
rides
should make available or have natural water available
at the minimum
once between the start and midway vet check and at
least once between
the check and the finish.>>>

Will you accept water one mile from the start and no
more water until 
the
mid-way check? Will you accept water not until one
mile from the 
mid-way
check? How about water one mile from the mid-check and
water one mile 
after
the mid-check? These all fill your conditions. Better
still why not 
like
some of the UAE rides and follow along with a water
truck and water 
every
few miles on course. I know that is foolish but you
can see where it 
leads.

At one point in time Endurance Competition was one
man, one horse 
against
the trail offered that particular day. It is turning
into one man, one
horse, against a carefully prepared track, aided by a
complete pit crew
available every few miles. Pit crew to include not
only the groom but 
equine
massage, human massage, vet, chiropractor, farrier,
coach and assorted
handlers for each leg of the horse. Oh, sorry, I did
not include the 
driver
of the support vehicle that carries the cooling spray
crew that meets 
the
horse and rider every few miles along the track.

Steve, all I can say is endurance is turning into a
wimpy bullshit
pseduo_sport.

You stated <<<So now I'm back to make trouble, or to
make sense.>>> How
about me?

Bob Morris


=====
Jim Beidle


Please reply to beidlej@yahoo.com

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