Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

   I read with some concern the post about the rider who, regardless of 
having virtually no experience, is filled with bravado as he predicts 
his future success in this, the most demanding of equine sports. Rest 
assured, folks, this sport has seen this type come and go many times 
before. It's true, we have safeguards in place designed to protect the 
innocent horse--vets, vet checks, hold times, recovery criteria, CRI's, 
soundness criteria, etc.,.  The reality that many of us don't like to be 
reminded of is that this is still an amateur sport, with all the foibles 
that entails. A rider can still get a horse in dire trouble, even mortal 
trouble, between the vet checks.  As a member of the Horse Welfare 
Committee, I can tell you that most ride related deaths are not from 
overriding. There are usually other mitigating factors, and often the 
death has nothing at all to do with how the horse is being ridden.
   In my mind, I see the opportunities granted to us as we enjoy our 
horses, are balanced by the responsibilities we must accept in the care 
and use of those horses. There is no safeguard we can implement that can 
assure a horse's protection from his ill-guided rider. Education is the 
key, and hopefully some will trickle down to this individual before harm 
is done. Ultimately the responsibility of the welfare of the horse rests 
squarely on the shoulders of the rider. This means that some horses out 
there will always be at risk, to the degree that there will always be 
those few who are unwilling or unable to accept that responsibility. The 
horse is truly in this thing with us.
 In a very "me" oriented world, one of the most honorable aspects of 
our sport is the fact that we are almost forced to set our ego aside as 
we campaign our horse, if he is to have a healthy career, and certainly 
if he is to have a long one.   Bruce Weary  


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