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Re: [RC] Horse Deaths to LD's - Paul LatiolaisThere are two ways (I think) people get their horses in trouble:1)Intermediate riders, who have had some success and want more, not knowing pitfalls, and 2)Experienced riders who only care about winning. I have only been in this sport for a couple of years and I have only done LD's. But it seems those two types would be easy to distinguish. It would be better for the sport to not have the latter group. The first group is inevitable in any sport. AS for LD's versus longer rides, it has become increasing obvious to me that the "winning" strategy for LD's (including BC) is very different than for longer rides. The conventional wisdom in endurance is that the top ten riders into the first vet check are not, by in large, the top ten completers. That may be true for the longer rides, but it definitely NOT true for LD's. The successful strategy for LD's could easily get someone's horse in trouble on a longer ride. It would be easy to do some research on these issues. Who would be willing to find some actual facts, instead of the suppositions we all seem to be working from? -Paul Latiolais On Friday, October 31, 2003, at 12:21 PM, Roxi Anderson wrote: I've been following the thread that started as horse deaths and how to end the problem.?? I can't help but wonder how the death of a horse that was competing at the upper level of our sport has turned into a discussion about what to do with new riders and once again how to change LD.? Very?useful information was coming out of the discussion at that time and now it seems to be turning very ugly with a few names called and has moved into how to keep a grip on new riders.? I must have missed a few posts because I can't for the life of me figure out the?similarities in the two.? Seems like apples and oranges.?? The discussion prior of travel time, electrolytes, climate, pedigree?was loaded with useful information.??Too bad the discussion can't get back to that.? I'm also curious if there is a way to find out what the percentage of dead horses were being competed on by novice riders or by seasoned riders, mileage in the sport for the horse, this type of informaton.?? Reason for this is by the turn of the discussion I'm lead to think that only newby's are associated with dead horses yet this discussion was prompted by a high mileage experienced rider.? I guess what I'm asking is there evidence suppporting the need for logbooks, forcing LD's.? Is it inexperienced riders killing horses or is it the circumstances of the day, the ride or just plain stuff happens ( I for one prefer reasons to "stuff happens")? I believe a lot can be learned from history.??The why's?of ?past horse deaths holds the key to preventing future horse deaths.??<image.tiff> Do you Yahoo!?
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