On 3/3/08, Judy Ryder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > About the young horse: > > http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=4651 > >From the conclusion of the article:
While there is still much left to learn about the relationship of exercise to age and bone development, the studies to date are enough to confirm that it is humane to train and compete juvenile horses--provided you progress with common sense, wisdom, and good horsemanship. As McIlwraith says, "The bottom line is that exercise is good, and we presume that younger is better. We've pretty well disproven the notion that 2-year-olds are any more vulnerable than older horses." In short, he concludes, "The horse is fragile, but that's not necessarily a function of age." These types of studies where they set out to prove that it is "safe" really irk me. You can take assumptions and make data fit to get your point. Note that they use the word 'humane' instead of safe or good for the horse. The last line says an awful lot too. 'The horse is fragile' - so don't put them in such a high risk situation. Racing and eventing would never be considered humane enough to be allowed to occur if it were starting now. Too much money, power and history to put a stop to it now. Kind of like insurance companies. We let them become way too rich and powerful to think that we could ever to go a health system without it. -- Anna Southern Ohio
