Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

This is my first post ever to RC.  From what I've read on here  regarding the Big Horn ride, I feel some things need to be pointed out,  particularly for anyone who has never done the ride and would consider  doing so.  Be sure you talk to many people about it before you do,  and go prepared to take care of yourself and your horse.  Or,  better yet, don't go, especially if you expect RM to provide a safe  ride.
  
  I want to tell you before you start slamming me that I was not a rider,  but I was crew.  I am an AERC member and I am also a veterinarian,  so I did have a knowledgable perspective from which to say the things I  am going to say.
  
  The general attitude of RM at the BH was, at best, cavalier.  I  have to say I see the same attitude in some of the posts I've seen on  RC.  The fact that a horse died was given no more than casual  attention in the accountings I have seen.  In fact, not only one  horse died, two were
 killed.  
  
  This is tragic.
  
  As someone pointed out, the vets really wanted riders to complete.   They pretty much left it up to riders to pull horses or decide to go on  and you can see what happened as a result.  One of the vets told  me he didn't see why a horse with colic couldn't go on if the rider  wanted to, the walking might do it some good.  Does this sound  like a responsible attitude towards our horses?
  
  At the ride meeting, Tom Van Gelder announced a few things that were  critical.  He made it clear that he felt the complaints regarding  their straight holds the year before were silly.  But, that they  would have gates into the holds this year because of the  complaints.  RM at this ride is obviously of the "old-timer"  attitude that everyone, including the horses, should just be tough and  suck it up rather than expect things to be done as safely as
 possible.
  
  Also at the ride meeting, Tom VG announced that if anyone was left out  on the fourth section of trail, which included that infamous Shag Nasty  and ended at Jack Creek, after dark, then glowsticks would be put out  for them.  This DID NOT happen, as you have heard from some of the  ride stories which have been told.  I drove into the Jack Creek  vet check hours before dark and personally told Tom that I knew for a  fact there would be at least one rider and most likely more who would  not get to Jack Creek before dark.  His answer was, well, they  already used all the glowsticks on the last section of trail.   Besides, he said, they'll be ok.  
  
  He also announced that there would be drag riders, either on 4-wheeler  or horseback.  Again, this DID NOT happen.  My rider was out  on the trail near Adelaide at about 8pm when her horse colicked.   She was the last rider on the trail.  She did what she
 could for  him while waiting for the drag rider who never appeared.   Fortunately, her horse came around and we had a live horse to bring  home.
  
  RM also seemed to delight in telling riders the trail was shorter and  less difficult than it actually was.  The other rider who ended up  on the trail overnight was told that the section including Shag Nasty  coming into the Jack Creek vet check was 7 miles.  The same member  of RM told me personally that the trail was about 14 miles.   According to most riders, it was longer than that.
  
  I would like to know just where Steph got the map she supposedly  consulted.  The one trail map I saw that was handed out to the  riders in general was beyond useless.  It was one big smudge with  nothing legible on it.
  
  Yes, the Big Horn mountains are beautiful.  I would love to go  back with my horses to camp and ride the back country.  The last  thing I would do, though, is
 attend a ride managed by Tom Van Gelder  without making sure I had my own support system in place including a  crew with good maps and my own drag rider.
  
  I spent the night at Jack Creek with Tom and I can tell you he is lucky  he was my only link to the resources I thought I was going to need to  go in and find those riders and horses.  Otherwise, he might not have made it out of there.  
  
  Did anyone else notice that there were no liability realease forms to sign for this ride?
  
  I haven't even covered all the areas of concern, but there's an appropriate place for that.
  
  Now, you go right ahead and slam me, I really don't care.  The  entire story of this ride needs to be told so more horses hopefully  don't suffer.
  
  Regards,
  Ramy Jisha DVM
  (that girl from Texas, for those who were there)

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