It is not my intention to argue point for point the issues you
present. However, even as a rank novice, on my first ride, having owned my
(first) horse for less than six months, I happily assumed full responsibility
for his safety and health. I did my best to make myself knowledgeable about the
sport and what I was asking of him. I had a lot I did not know and so much to
learn. I am thankful for all of the advice, assistance and information so freely
given by others. I was eager to learn from the vets. When on his fourth
endurance ride, (through my own ignorance) my horse pulled a suspensory, I could
not ask anyone to shoulder the blame. I learned a very important and valuable
lesson at my horse's expense. It is my opinion that when I elect to participate
in this demanding and rewarding game of endurance riding, I have to accept full
responsibility to learn all that I can about every aspect of horse ownership and
riding and competition. I feel it would be a cop out for me to ask anyone else
to share in this. I do expect that the trail will be safely cleared and well
marked. That there will be adequate water. That the vetting will be competent
and fair. If I get into trouble, I will consider it a wonderful bonus that there
will be assistance from RM and vets. (After all, when I am on a long and hard
conditioning ride, if I were to get into trouble, I am on my own). And if (worst
case scenario) my horse should get into real serious trouble of whatever
nature, sometimes that is just the way the cookie crumbles. In my opinion, that
is what makes this game so much fun and so different from other riding
disciplines. The more I learn, the more responsibility I shoulder, the less I
look around for others to blame, the better competitor (at whatever level) I
will become.
