Re: [RC] [AERC-Members] loop and hold lengths; philosophy - Howard Bramhall
The thing is, where do we draw the line? There might be situations
where the horse doesn't really need to be treated for survival, but, the
rider/owner takes this option to be on the safe side considering the
alternative. The point I was trying to make is we really need to be very
cautious here punishing anyone. If you are a member of AERC you are part
of the club and, removal from the club should be well thought out and
investigated thoroughly before we hang em from the nearest tree limb for all to
see.
To change our rules drastically because of a few bad apples in a club of
over 55,000 members is what is bothering me. When a horse dies at an
endurance ride, it really does make a difference compared to a ride where over
ten horses were treated and they all left camp with the vet's blessing. If
you've ever seen a dead horse, lying on the ground, no longer moving, at an
endurance ride, you might actually start thinking that there is a difference
between that horse and one who is attached to an IV and ends up leaving camp the
next day looking well.
I do want thorough investigations into any horse death that occurs at an
AERC endurance ride with sanctions against the rider if he/she was at
fault. I was hoping that's what the Welfare of the Horse Committee would
do, in conjunction with the VEt Committee, the Education Committee along with
the Protest and Grievance Committee. I did not foresee them punishing
riders because their horse did not complete a ride for metabolic reasons.
That is such a drastic move, I hope it's just a passing phase, because if we
were to enact such a thing without really thinking it through, along with the
idea that competition is BAD, VERY VERY BAD, we might as well get rid of
the idea of endurance as we now know it entirely. That will reduce
the number of horse deaths at endurance rides because you will no longer have
endurance rides at all. I guess that's one way to solve the problem.
cya,
Howard (What's really ridiculous is the election that took place in
KELLY-4NYA; to me the good news is Florida is no longer the most stupid state in
the country when it comes to politics)
Subject: Re: [RC] [AERC-Members] loop and
hold lengths; philosophy
I think it's ridiculous to punish a rider whose horse dies, but
not the rider whose horse needs treatment. The difference between
treatment and death may be luck, vet's skill, availability of nearby
suitable treatment facility, any number of factors. The point is not
to PUNISH one but not the other, the point is to find out why it happened,
and what could have been done to prevent it.
jeri
