Sharp Penny wrote, " all AERC rides need to be run with the exact same format, utilizing
the rules and regulations as set forth by AERC. In my way of thinking the
only difference when you travel to another region to compete should be the
terrain of the trail and weather...".
The Problem with this is exactly that, because different regions have
different terrains and climate, humidity, etc.. the vets try to take those
factors into account and base their P/R limits accordingly. It wouldn't be fair
for example to not raise the P/R requirements from say 60 to 64 if it was
unusally hot or humid in an area where the horses are not used to that. As far
as punishing people for how their horses react under certain conditions, we
need to have a more accurate and complete reason of the pull. For
example, for example had metabolic problems last year. Mostly, it was
my fault, inexperience. But when someone looks up your ' Rider
History ', what it doesn't tell the casual observer, is how far into the
ride these things happened and the speed at which you were Traveling. If
they showed the distance you had traveled and the time when you were pulled,
then ignorant people who assume you must have been racing like an idiot
would know that you were traveling a casual speed. For example in each
case, when I was pulled, I was not 'racing' my horse. I was trying to get my
unusually hyper horse to learn to go slow, I was riding slow, 5 -7
mph, back of the middle of the pack riders, and had already done 43-45
miles of a 50 in each case. And I have my friend that I was riding with to
back that up. The first time I wormed him 1 week before a ride not knowing
it would affect him a week later. The second time I gave shots 2 weeks
before a ride. I thought they were like humans and it only affected them, for a
day or two. Not so, I was told by the vet, as his pulse went from 60-80 and back
again. Some horses are affected for a month by shots and worming I found
out later. The third time my horse drank a huge amount of cold water
at an icy stream and got a little colicky immediately afterwards.
Because he is such a finicky drinker I let him drink as much as he
wanted, thinking it was good for him. The only one he was actually
treated for was the colicky stomach which was minimal and on all of them within
1/2 hour of rest he looked fine and pulsed out normal. Should I be punished for
my lack of experience? I think I was punished enough by paying the $85-95 ride
fee, not to mention gas, food, etc..,riding 45 miles and then getting pulled for
a horse that has a sensitive immune system. By the time I got home my horse
literally in each case got out of the trailer and happily ran off bucking and
chasing his pasture mates as though nothing had happened. Unless they change the
'Rider History' to include the miles traveled and the time pulled, so that you
can figure the speed at which they were traveling, and the actual reason for the
"metabolic pull, then you really can't judge whether the person was
intentionally abusing the horse by over-racing him.
