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[RC] [Guest] Horse Deaths - Ridecamp GuestStacy stacy.a.berger@xxxxxxxxx Hi - I am a lurker - used to be an endurance rider. My horse died after completing the 1999 Oakland 50. He was a well seasoned endurance horse. He got all 'A's & 'B's" throughout the day. We finished in the middle of group, with a ride time of about 8 hours (we weren't storming down the trail). At the end of the ride the vets noted that he had a heart arrythmia - but he looked awesome. They gave us a completion and advised me to bring him to my vet on Monday for a comprehensive look at his heart. I didn't pull my horse earlier - because there was no reason to. The vets didn't tell me to change anything, because there wasn't any reason to. He died in his pasture that night. I called ride management and the vets the next day. All were shocked. I think it is great that AERC is now looking at each death and examining what could have been done different. We should all learn from mistakes. Sometimes though - we still have a lot to learn, and just don't know what happened (including the vets). Because I am no longer an AERC member, I don't know what was written -other than the posts I read. I believe that the vets do the best they can, and ultimately the care is the riders responsiblity. While pointing fingers doesn't do anything but get people mad - the root cause of each death should be examined closely. If it can be identified and everyone can learn from it the sport will be a little safer. The root cause may how the horse is kept (tethered or in a pen) - or it may be the heat of the day... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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