Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Betty,

 

I've been doing this sport since 1998, granted don't have as many miles as most people who have been in it that long. But in all that time, I've seen horses on IV's at only one ride! An FEI ride where the temp was over 100 and the wind blowing about 25 mph.

 

I have indeed heard of horses dying of colic at horse shows. Yet, that's rarely talked about. My grandson's horse came home from a week-long 4H show sick and was sick for two weeks, from a virus he caught from another horse. John decided then and there, when he saw his horse so desperately sick, he was never taking him to another show. Does that mean there are sick horses at every show. Of course not. We got unlucky. His horse hasn't gotten sick at an endurance ride or CTR, so that's what he's judging it on in his limited world.

 

And tie up can occur in any horse that is fed high grain rations and worked. It's a testament to endurance riders that they know so much about nutrition that very few horses really do tie up at rides. There again, I've witnessed only one case of tie-up at a ride in 10 years. I'm sure there have been more, but that's what I've seen with my own eyes.

 

So please don't paint the sport with a big brush.

 

chris

Bette Lamore <woa@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I really appreciated your post, Richard. 
> It appears that many endurance people on this list tend to see in black and white-- they are the "good guys" and show people are the "bad guys". Rather humorous when I hear about all the IV's needed after a run. Never heard of a horse dying from tieing up or colic after a show. Let's face it -- there are abuses by so called "horse people" in any venue and it is up to all of us to
>  be vigilant about reporting any that we witness. As to what happens afterwards... well that is out of our hands so long as we give it our best shot. It took much clamoring on the part of Arabian owners to make stewards follow-up on the abuse rules that have actually been in effect for a long time-- just never enforced. The times, they are changing --- both in endurance and the Arabian show ring, I am happy to say (at least it appears to be so from my limited observations and reports). Personally, I like the idea of my horses spending their lives on a trail, rather than in a stall at a show, yet many show people now are owners-exhibitors, such as you, and are balancing the two quite well. I have some "show-offs" in my pasture who actually come alive at shows and LOVE the competition. Both the show ring and endurance have the capacity to become a heaven or a hell for a horse.
> Bette
>
> Richard M Levine wrote:
> > In summary, I believe the Arabian industry has come a long way in curtailing this type of activity, but it is up to each one of us to make sure it stops 100% and is eliminated.

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