[RC] Rules/Abuse - If it helps then yes - Ibiteraaarr
I will accept stricter criteria and different colored
vet card if it means we are one step closer to eradicating as much abuse as
possible, intentional or not. As a newbie who has done both endurance and
LD, I have no problem humbling myself further while my horse and I accumulate
mileage and experience. I love endurance and I am not above having to earn
the privilege of participating. I am not above pulling, and did so on Loki and
I's first ride after moving to a different part of the country and realizing
that we weren't prepared for the substantial change in elevation, climate,
etc.
Honestly, I'm slightly surprised to see the objections
to possibly adding a couple tweaks, especially for newcomers, that would mostly
affect such. I rode saddle seat for many years. Trust me, if anyone appreciates
the minimal amount of rules in endurance, I do :)
However, unwillingness to add regulations that might only affect a few people at
the least, and prevent abuse at the most, because of the fear of becoming one of
the "micro-managed" disciplines seems illogical.
While it seems that this type of problem is small and
not a threat to the sport as a whole, I think we still should be mindful of the
fact that it only takes one incident like Mariposa brought to public awareness
that could create issues for ALL of us, and it's not a stretch to assume that
the masses will paint all endurance riders with one brush, the only one
they know about......
The rides that I have done, I felt obligated to
disclose to the vets Loki and I's limited record and inexperience. I have also
been asked by vets if I had done any rides before when getting different vets at
the vet checks. I have no problem with this. I feel it is imperative they know
we are new, even if it means they approach our evaluations in a more
cautionary manner. As a Turtle Award recipient, I do consider myself a caring
rider. I know that is not a shared sentiment, and thus, I am willing to accept a
couple more hurdles to clear to prove that I HAVE done my homework, that I HAVE
brought my horse along slowly with 3 years of conditioning before we took a shot
at competing. Endurance and horses (and the preservation of both) mean a lot to
me, and if tightening up the reins on would-be abusers benefits both, then I'm
willing.
