At the risk of repeating myself, I really hope
that all we do, initially, is to change what we are doing now. What we
are doing now, as far as getting info out to other members, is practically
nothing. I find that completely unacceptable.
There's not much we can really do if a horse
dies a day or two, or a week or two, or a month or two, after an endurance
ride in their owner's backyard. Let's not make this thing too difficult
for anyone to accept. Let's just make it a thing we do.
We tell all, everything available, if a horse
dies at an endurance ride. Forget those variables that fall into the
"other" category. If a horse dies at a ride, every person there will
know that there is a dead horse nearby (and you can believe they all know
exactly where the horse is located). There won't be an answer, based on
facts, as to what happened with this horse if we don't search
for it.
It's the only way to be. We can tweak the
rules later, this procedure will evolve; but, for now, let's do
something. What we are doing now, which is just about nothing, needs to
change. It's time to show our hand to the rest of the world. All
cards out on the table. We hide nothing, we don't look for any
scapegoats, we take this course of action to learn from it and we do this to
reduce the number of endurance related horse deaths at our AERC
rides.
The issue that I have with
the 30 day dead horse rule is NOT about research or
education. If my horse died after a ride and I and my at home vet
decided that it was remotely possibly endurance related I would be more than
happy to volunteer any and all information to help out. I am very
concerned about the death of horses, and the reasons for it. Or any horse
discomfort. What I have issue with is making it a rule, something that riders
have to sign away rights to privacy or face penalty. How can
you hope to keep track or enforce? If you hear a rumor that my
horse died and you call me up and ask and I tell you that it is not dead, what
are you going to do about it? Sit on the highway with binocs and watch for
buzzards over my ranch? Get a court order and a back hoe to dig looking
for bodies. Who will pay for all this documentation,enforcement,record
transferring? I mean what are you going to do about
it? There is nothing you can do. So why make a rule that is
completely unenforceable, and what I feel is really not in what
used to be spirit of this sport. People that want to volunteer info, and
help out will do so. I think it is perfectly reasonable to set a policy
of riders submitting extended information post ride on a voluntary
basis. I feel that making it a rule will only add to the pain and
suffering that a person goes thru in loosing a horse, regardless of the
reason, and human nature being what it is, create even more desire for
secrecy. So please no more rules, especially one so unenforceable.
Annie G.
Anne George Saddlery www.vtc.net/~ageorge
