Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

> Very good points Terre. But you are starting to sound like
> me when it comes to data. It would be only as good as what
> is reported. Considering the complaints from the past, about
> it being to much of a burden on the Vets and ride Managers,
> how would you propose to obtain the data in a worthwhile
> way?

It doesn't take that much time or effort to pull a blood sample from a horse 
being treated.  Nor would it be all that difficult to send it in for analysis 
to verify whether electrolyte values are on average within normal levels in 
treated horses.  Some of the other blood parameters are a little more difficult 
to obtain quickly without onsite equipment, but it just wouldn't be all that 
difficult to examine electrolyte levels, blood pH and so on.  Maybe part of the 
sanctioning and entry process should include agreements by the ride manager, 
ride vet and participating riders that should a horse require treatment for 
metabolic problems, a blood sample will be pulled and sent in at AERC's cost.  
AERC does have research funds which are not currently be utilized, to my 
understanding.  A simple panel, plus some relevant history, would go a long 
ways towards at least establishing a trend of where the problem area lies.

As for getting the data analyzed, organized and disseminated---hell, I'll 
volunteer to do that, if AERC will allow me to publish results as case studies 
in the veterinary journals.


> There is one other point to be made here. While I do deplore
> any horse fatality there remains the fact we are working
> with very small numbers. One must look at the return on
> investment in this case. Is it practical to embrace a large
> scale effort for minimal returns? We are all aware that no
> matter the effort there will always be fatalities at
> endurance rides. Not caused by any untoward practices but
> just because living bodies die eventually.

IMO, it depends on the focus of the effort.  If one horse falls off a trail and 
you instigate a $30,000 study examining the geophysical components of the trail 
he fell off of, nope, probably not worth it.  If, on the other hand, you 
examine the metabolic profiles of horses being treated at rides and thereby 
identify preventative measures that can be applied to all horses participating 
in endurance rides, that's money pretty well spent.  More so when the 
inevitable attack comes form animal rights groups asking "what are you as a 
group doing to try to prevent horse deaths as the result of these 
competitions?"  If the answer, is "nothing, because not enough horses died to 
be worth it", your goose is cooked.

> I believe a strong education effort would provide a greater
> return on investment than any rule, data acquisition or
> other preventative method as it would benefit all levels of
> rider. In addition it would be proactive rather than
> reactive.
I agree absolutely.  IMO, to date, AERC has not made nearly enough effort to 
push education nearly enough.  Yes, there are a fair number of local endurance 
seminars, which may or may not be well attended or of good quality.  None are 
to my knowledge organized with any direct assistance from AERC, other than the 
national convention itself.  Why not?  Why can't or doesn't the nat'l office 
help organize introductory or advanced endurance seminars?  At the very least, 
AERC could maintain a list of qualified speakers available and willing to teach 
at seminars for interested parties.  There are plenty of great people willing 
to talk for an hour or two if the logistics can be worked out, but a lot of 
organizers simply don't know they're around.

Another point--for the past two years, I've offered to teach a full day, eight 
hour seminar in endurance nutrition and applied physiology in conjunction with 
the national convention, everything from basic concepts to advanced 
strategies.  While everyone thought it was a great idea in principle, nothing 
has ever been done to get it rolling.  Not to sound arrogant, but you can't 
tell me there isn't enough interest among the members---every year for the past 
five years, my seminars are *always* standing room only and the vendor halls 
become like a ghost town---you're telling me that a full day seminar wouldn't 
pull enough people to turn a profit AND disseminate a ton of rider education?  
Frankly, if AERC doesn't get on the band wagon and do it, I'll rent the lecture 
hall at the Silver Legacy myself next year and organize the damn thing for the 
day before the convention on my own. Anybody wanna bet I can make a profit 
doing it and pull a good sized crowd that'll go home a LOT more educated than 
when they arrived?

Endurance News has had some good quality educational articles in it recently, 
especially those borrowed from Ray Geor, but you can't blame qualified writers 
for not wanting to give high quality articles away for free on a regular basis, 
when other publications *do* pay for articles.  Even a token payment would pull 
in more good, education articles.  AERC has the research budget and the by-laws 
that talk about education.  Let's get with it, already.

Enough ranting.  Bob, I don't have Stagg's email address here with me---forward 
this to him, if you wouldn't mind.

JMO.
Susan Garlinghouse


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=