[RC] At least one good thing about starting the NC50 early (lengthy) - tim miller
>>>Amy commented how if they hadn't happened to
see Ruby pee, they never would have guessed she had a problem. She speculated
that there might be other such asymptomatic horses that go undetected --
especially if a ride ends later and darkness falls before the horse gets around to peeing, making the condition harder to
detect.<<<<
Jonni wrote:
<And after reading this, I guess my mind just sees things
differently. If she had finished later, she MIGHT not have been stressed as
much, and might not have had her system compromised. (note I say might, as we
all know that things happen to the best, most fit horses that we can't always
foresee).>
Jonni you're clearly not familiar with Mrs. Cieri who is
universally respected in the NE region for her horsemanship and concern for the
welfare of the horse.
As the owner of this mare, I was honored and privileged to have Amy
undertake the training, conditioning and riding of this mare commencing past
February. I assure you this mare was not over-ridden by
Amy and I would refer to her record this year which clearly reflects building to
this ride. Amy is quite familiar with this area, having spent a week
years ago searching for, and finally finding with the help of many
others, a horse who stampeded out of camp along with several others.
The mare she rode at the NC's had a metabolic pull in 2003, the
testing at that ride and immediate subsequent blood tests were submitted to
Cornell University where it was conclusively determined the mare was clearing
toxins from her liver prior to the ride. The records were submitted to
AERC offices.
Amy was riding with John Crandell at the outset of the NC 50, she also
dismounted and with John and they caught three riderless horses, untacked
them and tied them securely to trees. A no brainer for either of these
riders. Some chose to ride on by. John and Amy were in some important
sense the winners of this ride.
Post ride, Ruby was eating, drinking, peeing (clear) and pooping. She
was alert, showed no signs of distress. Several hours thereafter, by dumb
luck, both Amy and Dawn witnessed discoloration of urine and immediately reacted
with elytes and walked her to the treatment vet.
This mare appeared in estrus on Sunday. In 2004, in the NA 100
mile pre-ride, I had a mare going in exactly the same point in her cycle, at the
last check she exhibited some similar signs. In that second last leg
there was a dramatic weather change. Interestingly, at the same
point in her cycle weeks later, she exhibited the same signs on a conditioning
ride, after a mere five miles, at the onset of a dramatic weather
change. Blood was drawn, other tests were taken, the only conclusion
multiple vets could make was that estrus in combination with weather change
caused the reaction.
Amy Cieri has an inherited condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. A
connective tissue disease. She lives in pain constantly.
Unbeknownst to me, Thursday past, while handling pumpkins, she suffered a
severe dislocation of her hip/leg, by the last hold, she was barely capable
of walking. The bond that had developed between her and Ruby was such that
I declined to stand for BC in the absence of Amy's ability to show her.
I thank Mary for bringing to the attention of the endurance community, a
group in the forefront of horse welfare, the issue of horses completing rides,
seemingly fine by all outward appearances, yet are in distress. How many
are loaded in the trailer, taken home, and recover on their own? We
continue to learn, not all cause and affects have been discovered.
Anybody familiar with Amy Cieri will attest she is not capable of
over-riding a horse. It goes against all she firmly stands for.
If I had my pick of any of the great riders in this country, I would choose Amy
every time. She is the epitome of what this sport stands for.
