Re: [RC] racing too young/ was Racetrack trainer CA - Howard Bramhall
This is not a rumor. It's been going on for years and is a big
incentive for some riders to do well at an event. There is big money
in our sport if one looks in the right places; this is where it comes
from.
Be that as it may, things might be dropping off in that arena. The
war in Iraq, the vanquishing of the Olympic endurance dream, and, other factors,
the Sultans of Swing are turning more to the thoroughbred racetrack and away
from endurance. Those six figures and, even seven, paid for endurance
horses may soon be a thing of the past.
I was surprised when Connie Caudill made her post on this subject stating
it might be one of the reasons why there aren't that many 100 milers out on the
trail anymore and hardly anyone responded. I think she might be right on
why the downward trend started and kept spiraling in that direction reference
100 milers.
To quote Jim Baldwin from his article in July's Endurance News about
competitive riders, "No one wants to hurt, much less kill, their horse but many
riders refuse to believe that it can happen to them. When confronted with
the facts that their horse is marginal and should stop, riders repeatedly come
up with every excuse imaginable to try and go on."
Throw in the possibility of selling a horse for big money combined with a
rider who is overly competitive and you do have a recipe for disaster.
Even though we are an amateur organization it's not possible to keep this sort
of thing out of our sport. What we count on is our vets, Ride Managers,
and riders to keep our horses healthy during the event and our sport on the
right track.
Subject: [RC] racing too young/ was
Racetrack trainer CA
I hear rumors that some of the middle east countries will
pay big bucks for some of our proven endurance horses...especially mares
that they can breed. I read an article in a local Auburn paper while at
Tevis that last years winning horse was sold over seas, and she fetched a 6
figure sum. True???????? Who knows...can't always believe everything one
reads. But, I was wondering during this years ride, when I saw such a young
horse getting pushed to her limits, if that was going through the riders
mind. Maybe hopes of selling this young mare if she preformed well at the
ride???????? Who knows...just some random thoughts on my part, with nothing
at all to back them up.
