Ridecamp: [RC] WEG deaths

	Given what we have heard, and knowing that there is no such thing as "the 
whole truth", here is how it seems to me: these horses were, of course, the 
victims of human ego.
	It's not just the checks; there are many rides (including 1 day 100s) with 
long loops and full checks.  It's not just the 'leasing' thing; many of us 
have ridden other people's horses, or allowed other people to ride ours 
that take excellent care, and many other WEG horses were leased (I am sure 
that 99.9% of our crashes at home happen with the owner in the saddle). 
It's not just the course or the weather; other horses finished in good 
shape on that course, in that weather, and with those holds.  It HAS to be 
the "human factor"--which often boils down to "ego".
	The ego of the riders, but also of the owners who lease horses out for a 
level of competition for which they are not adequately prepared.  But I 
don't think it stops there.  I think there are also 'egos' in the Ride 
Management/Organizing Committee, the FEI stewards, and the Veterinary 
Commission.  I think huge projects of this nature, involving a number of 
committees from various different interests come with built-in 
conflict.  And here you will have a large number of (mostly) middleaged men 
(sorry guys!), all of whom are accustomed to power, none of whom want to be 
told what to do.  No one wants to yield to someone else's opinion, even if 
they suspect it may have validity.  Add to that national biases and 
attitudes: don't you think the Europeans get fed up with hearing "how we do 
it here" from North Americans and Aussies, and knee-jerk oppose 
it?  Certainly, WE seem to have that knee-jerk response to suggestions 
coming from THEM!  And EVERYBODY resents the UAE guys, and automatically 
trashcans any ideas that appear to originate from them! (and possibly from 
the North American vets in their employ).  Riders aren't the only ones who 
want to "win".
	That said, I think the ultimate failure lies with the riders.  Yes, the 
checks were apparently too short for some horses.  The riders could have 
stayed overtime, or taken time to feed on the trail--as Bob Morris so 
rightly stated--(paraphrase, can't find the original) 'Nobody ever FORCES 
anybody to override their horse.'  More cooperation between the OCs/Vet 
Committees, tougher qualifying criteria--these things may help in the 
future.  But nothing will ever protect horses (or even ourselves) from the 
effects of the human ego.

terre 


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