Thank you for posting re. the proposed "Marathon" veterinary procedures. I
strongly feel that a post-ride veterinary inspection as required by the AERC
is mandatory for the safety of horses competing at any distance over 2
miles. I do not think USET or AERC should send teams to compete in events
which do not safeguard horses in the manner which the AERC has found to be
best in nearly 3 decades of monitoring competitions.
In 1990, the Florida Arabian Horse Association attempted to promote a
marathon in Palm Beach. The prizes would total $100,000.00. That year, I
was riding Sir Sherif, with whom I had just won Tevis and ten other
races....I figured I had a good chance at paying for my two kids' college
educations, plus buying the back forty! However, when I inquired as to
veterinary criteria, I was told there would be no post-ride vet checks
either in the ten 13 mile "heats" which would determine the horses allowed
to enter the final 26 mile race, or in the grande finale itself. Although I
argued that horses would be on IVs for days after top tenning the heats in
order to qualify for the big race, and some might die after the main event,
I was told it wasn't "telegenic" to pull horses after they passed the finish
line.
I declined the opportunity to retire the mortgage, as did most other
endurance riders. The event did not attract enough entries (entry fee
$5,000), and was cancelled.
I can understand the motivation for producing short (25 mile) races with big
money prizes. Breeders and trainers want to promote a sport in which
Arabian horses excel. Arabians race on the flat track, but not as fast as
Thoroughbreds. They jump, but not as high as warmbloods. They cut cattle,
but not as snappy as Quarterhorses. They trot great, but not as fast as
Standardbreds. Some folks are looking for a performance competition at
which Arabians will beat all other breeds, a competition which has potential
for spectator and commercial sponsor interest. "Regular" 50 & 100 mile
endurance race take too long for TV. Twentyfive mile "novice" events have
been the bastard child....no real endurance rider would brag about "winning"
a 25 mile ride. But there's a real attraction there for folks who are
looking for something the Arabian can do faster and better than any other
breed, in a time frame that is within the attention span of the modern
spectator.
By the way, in talking with folks who have participated in or watched the
marathons in Dubai, I haven't heard of terrible horse fatalities or
calamities. It's a fact that money has bought some of the very best horses
and trainers, who have done a terrific job of training the horses to run
fast for 26 miles. Most of these horses have a history of years of training
and racing, and were quite capable of running fast that far on the flat.
That fact notwithstanding, I still opt for strict veterinary criteria at the
end of all long distance horse races. As long as the criteria are uniformly
enforced, it's still a horse race, and for the educated and informed, even
more exciting. The overriding concern has got to be: for the good of the horse.
Lari
Lari Shea http://www.horse-vacation.com
Ricochet Ridge Ranch Riding Vacations on the Mendocino Coast with
24201 North Highway One Lodging at Unique B&B Inns; International Riding
Fort Bragg, CA 95437 Akhal Teke and Russian Orlov/cross horses
707-964-7669ph/ 707-964-9669 fax At stud: RRR Stolichnaya & RRR Russia
1-888-TREK-RRR (888-873-5777)