Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Green Horses

I can't remember seeing an injury because of a unruly horse at rides I have
been. I am sure there are some, but I don't think there are many. The worse
injury I've seen was when a dead broke quarter horse spooked at something
carrying the flag into the arena before a local rodeo. It happened to a neighbor
girl who after two years is just getting over the head injuries and she may
never fully recover.

The second most serious injury I've seen happened in a dressage arena. Now
I'm not claiming that there is a problem in these disciplines because of
 these accidents. I also think you many have interpreted Howard's post differently
than I did. Not to defend, Howard. No one should ever be accused of defending
Howard. But you have to have at least met Howard to know form where he comes.
You also need to apply a few correction factors to Howard's comments to get
to what he really means. 

I think that is what he means. Endurance is a sport with minimal rules. Many
if not most are drawn to it because of this. We don't want rules that are
not there for a specific purpose. It is a sport where people are responsible
for themselves and their horses.  It's not a sport where this responsibility
is shifted from the individual to some amorphous body of rules and stewards
running around being important. It is not a sport where "the dress code police"
or the" etiquette police" or the "behavior police" etc. are there to "make
things right." We do have veterinary control for the good of the horses and
to help us better care for our horses, but at the end of the day the rider
is responsible.  It's also a sport where anyone with a good horse can go
out and prove it without jumping through a lot of hoops. It's a sport where
the cream can quickly rise to the top instead of being over the hill when
it finally gets there from jumping through a bunch of hoops and levels and
classes to order to get there. It's one of the few organized equestrian sports
where this is true. Endurance is the sport of the "proletariat." It's the
sport of the average man and woman. I think that's one reason for it's growing
popularity. Putting up with a few "greenies" is the price we pay for our
unique sport. I think it's a small price. 

Truman

Mike Sofen wrote:

I respectfully disagree, and vigorously.  It's one thing if I want to go jump off a cliff and kill myself, and quite another drag an entire community with me.  I've been at several rides where a seriously dangerous horse (just another term for "green", Howard) caused severe injuries to other horses and riders or to just their own rider.

 

Howard, you can get your adrenaline rush in multiple ways using multiple activities and/or multiple chemical compounds.  Endurance has NOTHING to do with your green horse mania and everything to do with the creatures under our care and control.  A green can EASILY injure themselves, can EASILY injure other horses and riders.  You want a rush?  There's several people on this list that train RACEHORSES.  Get on one of them.

 

The adrenaline I feel when I'm riding a green horse does not even remotely equate to the glow I feel when I successfully cross the finish line at the end of an endurance ride.  What I do love is the feel of green horse gaining wisdom and experience...as they begin to navigate the difficult aspects of the human/horse interface, overcoming complex environmental/visual obstacles, learning to be cool.

 

To paint all of endurance with your color choice is rather myopic.

 

Mike Sofen