Re: [RC] Thinking out loud & Filing protests - Heidi Smith
>I have been following this thread
for days and I am very surprised on the number of posts that infer that if a
horse is treated or dies at a ride that someone may automatically file a
protest. I think this is really unfounded, at least in my region
(PS). Most of us realize that there is
some risk to our horses in this sport and therefore there will never be 0% on
horse deaths/treatment. I think most AERC members think the protest process
should be used for the most grievous violations or when all other means of
resolving an issue fail or if the violation is so blatant that public censure is
demanded. This is pretty obvious from the protest that started this whole
discussion.
I agree, Kim. What is
being protested (and should continue to be protested) is horse ABUSE, not
necessarily horse fatality or horse treatment.
I disagree strongly with those who suggest that any
fatality should be protested--it is often obvious right there in camp what
happened. There is enough trauma to losing your horse in a tragic accident
or to a hidden cause such as a tumor or an aneurysm that the conscientious rider
does not need to be dealing with a protest on top of it.
