okay, to answer some of the other questions about log books...
firstly i had better point out that i am new to this sport, and never
rode in the pre-log-book days, so i can't compare it to the situation
then. also, in australia, we seem to have already gone through this
resistance to control phase and the idea of the AERA having certain
powers over riders does not bother anyone. i don't want to make an issue
out of that - no doubt we had the same sorts of reactions many of you are
having to our system now when it was brought in, but i am not in a
position to comment as i have only ridden under the "new regime", and it
seems to work okay. so if some of the things we do bother you, don't
blame me, okay? :-) i think we can all learn and improve by picking the
best bits out of everybody's systems, which is why i keep asking
questions about yours.
when you join the AERA (in whichever state you're in) you get a
membership card and number. like your horse, you have to bring this to
every ride. no card, no ride.
when you want to start doing endurance rides on a horse you apply to the
AERA for a novice log book. you can get day membership and ride without a
log book in training rides (usually 40km (25miles)), but to compete in
endurance rides you need a log book. the rules are very inflexible here-
no log book, no ride. no doubt they were more lenient when they were
introducing the books, but now they're strict. i've known people who have
travelled several hours from home, arrived at the ride where the ride
secretary knew them and their horses, but forgot their log books. they
weren't allowed to ride.
at the ride, when you fill in the paperwork and and pay up your cash you
hand over your log book. sometimes you get it back and it is up to you to
take it with your horse to the vet, sometimes the ride committee handles
it all, it depends on the ride management. either way, you, your horse
and your log book front up at the vet and he/she uses it as a standard
vet card. your horse's pre-ride parameters are entered into it. you don't
get it back, it stays with the vets/ride committee.
at all vet checks throughout the ride it is used as a normal vet card. if
the vet is making a decision whether or not to let you continue he/she
may look back at your record and other vet's notes. how much influence
this has depends on the individual vets, but the information is there.
at the end of the ride your completion (or not) details are entered into
your log book, with the reasons for the vet out stated if necessary (the
funniest log book was when a friend of mine got drunk the night before
and was unable to stay on his horse, so the vet recorded "rider hungover"
in the log book). if you are awarded the best conditioned or any award,
that is recorded. and you get your log book back at the ceremony with
your buckle (the standard completion prize here is a buckle).
one of the reasons for having a log book with all details (loose bound
books would negate this) is that a horse that "shouldn't" be ridden can
be stopped BEFORE it starts. reasons could include a novice horse being
entered in too many rides too quickly (a novice horse is only allowed to
enter a set number of rides in any 3-month period, i forget how many), a
horse with a "rest order" imposed on it by a previous ride vet etc. you
may or may not agree with these rules, but the log book enables them to
be enforced if they exist.
other details may be recorded that allow a horse to continue when
otherwise it may not have been able to. a horse that consistently shows
low scores on the third vet check, but always recovers beautifully for
the fourth, for example, may be allowed to continue when a vet can see
proof of this. a horse with a regular gait abnormality may not be marked
lame if it can be shown to be permanent. again, you may not like these
ideas, but the log bokk does provide a previous history to assist the vet
if they choose to use it (some don't).
as a rider/owner you have a permanent record of your horse's performance,
dates, times, recoveries etc. not easily lost like individual vet cards
may be. and if you are buying ahorse with a record you get that record
too. useful to sell a horse, or for breeding or whatever.
as a rider on some-one else's horse you have a record of how that horse
has performed, what times it did for it's best recoveries etc. that is
information that can help you ride a better ride.
as a TPR steward or penciller, well it can be interesting flicking
through and seeing where the horse has been and what it's done. :-)
the downsides, as i can see, is the inflexibility if you forget to bring
it to a ride. but if they are not mandatory they lose some of their
benefits, and i think once it becomes routine this shouldn't be a
problem. you don't forget your saddle or other essential items do you?
also, it makes it that bit harder for some-one new to start out in the
sport - having to go through the process of applying for a book etc
beforehand. but then, do we want people trying their first ride on a whim
anyway?? and you can do training rides without them.
if this hasn't answered anyone's questions, or if they want more details,
just let me know,
nik in oz