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Re: [RC] [RC]Horse Buying/Selling - heidiFirst there are a lot more riders and horses out there today. The overall experience level in both horses and riders is probably lower because of this fact. Because of is the second factor comes in - our rides are much bigger and there are more of them. A low probability event will more likely to be observed as the number of starters go up. It is a lot more significant when you saw a horse on IV's at a ride in 93 where there were only 15 starters than seeing one on IV's today with 75 starters. The second factor is what you could call "we all used to die of old age" syndrome. Back in the 50's most old people died of "old age." Today they don't die of old age they die of this or that type of cancer, lupus, etc. We just do a much better job characterizing and keeping track. Today we do a better job at keeping track and the internet connects people so that the word gets out and spreads like wildfire on a dry CA canyon floor. My personal recollection is we used to see more treatments in the mid 90's than we do today. SERA put in a two vet rule in the early 90's in response to concern about treatments. In the SE at least I think the treatments per starter have probably gone down since the early to mid 90's not up. Truman, we are not suggesting that "the sky is falling." Additionally, I am well aware of the factors that you mention above. Furthermore, with regard to the quality of horses that we see on rides, the 90s ARE "modern times." You are right that AERC and the vets have gotten better at spotting the wrecks about to happen, and have likely lowered overall treatment rates (note I said RATES--that takes into account the fact that there are more riders, hence you may still see more overall treatments, but not as many per capita, as you say). That in no way alters what Lif and I have been saying--which is that the treatments in early years were largely due to the horses just flat having the snot run out of them, whereas now we are seeing horses with more innate problems who crash despite better management. THAT is the difference. BTW, many of us who vetted in yesteryear DID follow up on horses that had problems, and turned in data to AERC--so while you are correct that AERC is just now getting around to doing something with the information, and starting to enforce the gathering of information, that doesn't mean that we've exactly had our heads in the sand as individuals all these years. I tried to put in a data collection system in the early 80s when I chaired the AERC veterinary committee, but no one was willing to go to those lengths back then. Nonetheless, our NW veterinarians met as a group at our PNER convention every year and put our "bad cases" on the table and discussed them, and got suggestions from each other as to how to prevent, see them coming, treat them, etc. So I really do think that those of us who have been in the trenches have had a pretty good bird's eye view of how horses have changed over the years, even if we don't have hard numbers. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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