Experimenting with Speed
At the last Moab Endurance ride in Oct 2013, I gave a presentation to the participants as the head veterinarian for the ride. The title of the presentation was, “If you want to experiment with speed…”
It is a temptation, when you feel radically alive, a oneness with all that exists and more than exhilarating to experience in this physical body; Speed. It is something we all can experience and we do it with our eyes wide open. An informed decision fully aware of the risks and the absolute shouldering of responsibility, the ability to respond. This seems simple yet has become complex and confusing somehow. The complexity thickens when we invite our fellow winged and 4 leggeds to dance with us or even carry us in the case of the horse.
A horse is one of the most beautiful and spiritual animals to connect with humans. The horse willingly, with unconditional love connects with us, carries us and often doesn’t complain even to death of its body in this gift. The sport of endurance creates a place to experience this connection with horses literally within the physiologic parameters of movement over extended lengths of time. Many levels of experience can be created. One way to glean experience with the support of open eyes is to get more knowledge about the risks and things to look out for in order to have a more pleasant outcome. Talk to others that have experimented with speed or who have accomplished something that you wish to experience yourself. It is a honor that comes with great responsibility to ask a horse to accompany you in your desired experience. If you choose to experiment with speed without getting more information or the potential hard way, it may be a good idea to experiment with yourself first. How does your body feel moving over extended periods of time, with one or two water bottles, the food that you can carry and in deep sand. What happens with your feet, what footwear do you choose? Do you want to get up and do it again the next day and the next, does your body hold out?
The sport of endurance is in deliberation about the welfare of the horse. Who is ultimately responsible for the welfare? It is known that speed combined with longer distances pushes the horse to the physiologic edge. Here is where you are playing with the edge or limit of physiologic capacity. You may fall off the edge. That is done with eyes wide open and with full responsibility.
The ride veterinarian who only gets to connect and observe the horse for brief interludes of time, getting only a few pieces of the puzzle, can not predict whether the horse will fall off the physiologic edge. Only the rider who gets to connect with the horse during pre event training and through out the entire event and post event gets all the pieces of the puzzle. There are many ways to put together a puzzle… So if you want to experiment with speed, do it with your eyes wide open, shouldering all the inherent responsibility and accept all of that experience as yours in connection with your horse. Veterinarians are part of your coaching support not your scapegoat!