RIP Splitters Creek Bundy

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palo1

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Another endurance horse death in the UAE. On 31st January during a 120km race Splitters Creek Bundy died, apparently due to one or two broken legs. 2 other deaths remain unconfirmed as yet. This was NOT an FEI race, though the FEI will be notified of his death. His competition record shows that he failed his last 3 FEI races on lameness: the last one in November 2014 yet he was racing in a national (non-FEI) race in January this year. Dubai tv showed images of the horse collapsing - these are being circulated online and are distressing. In the UAE it is common practice for endurance horses to be 'followed' by a great number of 4x4's making considerable noise. This is not endurance as we know it in the UK, but possibly making an appearance soon...Very sad.
 
210 views and no comments. Vets and others working in desert countries report that these sorts of fatalities happen on a near weekly basis during the endurance racing season. Some of the horses sold for endurance overseas are British. Pippa Cuckson, former H&H journalist has also reported on some of the horrors of desert style endurance racing. It is surprising that the wider equestrian public have so little to say I think though perhaps that is because the sport is a minority one in this country and currently bears no resemblance to the desert style sport. Yet the desert style is influential so is this the way the sport will develop in the UK?
 
I agree and think its horrendous what is happening to these endurance horses. I have followed the H&H stories with interest but am frankly confused as to why nothing more is being done by FEI or Endurance governing bodies. I know nothing about the sport but I am sure that if similar were happening in other disciplines, the governing bodies would be in uproar.
 
Actually there is plenty being said on endurance FB pages, but opinion is divided as to whether it should be shown or not. The Australian woman who sold the horse is understandably very upset and has chosen not to post the photos on her ENDUROZ page and has asked that no one else do so.

They have been posted on the NZ endurance page, and the person who did so has been criticised for being "insensitive". However there is also a very strong voice that argue that this sort of thing should not be hidden. And I am with them - as terrible and horrific as it is, and as potentially damaging to the sport as it could be, this sort of abuse should never be allowed to go unnoticed.

I can assure you that this is also not how endurance in Australia and New Zealand is run, and we to are completely at a loss as to why the FEI continues to bury it's head in the sand.
 
One of the problems with this particular incident is that the race was run under National rules (of the UAE) so the FEI has no jurisdiction over this event and cannot do much in the way of enquiry or investigation. The horse's death will be reported to the FEI but as the race was not run under their auspices they have no power to investigate, indeed, if they would. This is one reason why some members of Endurance GB have argued that the UAE should be encouraged to compete in FEI races in this country: if they don't have that opportunity, it is argued that more non-FEI races will simply be organised to satisfy the on-going desire to participate in endurance races. Some members of Endurance GB also argue that the UK may provide more effective monitoring and policing of mal-practice in these sorts of races. The rules in many Group VII (Middle Eastern) countries are very similar to FEI rules but they are simply not adhered to.

Money, of course is highly influential and the power and influence wielded by some endurance owners is extraordinary: in the UK and worldwide and I believe that possibly because of this, there is not the appetite there should be for tackling these issues. The deaths of horses in endurance racing and in training under circumstances reported widely by journalists and witnesses are abhorrent of course and have even been fit for comment by Private Eye. (Ref Sheikh your Booty - January 2015). Some of the stories coming out of the desert are truly disturbing.

The death of SC Bundy, tragically is just one awful story.
 
I understand from Facebook that EGB have censored the forum and deleted stuff about this poor horse who was ridden until its legs broke then was pushed out of the way by the rider :-(
 
From what I understand, the EGB forum admin requested that images of the horse collapsing were removed. The original poster did remove them, though some members are upset that this request was made. There is a real difference of opinion in UK endurance whether publicising this stuff is helpful: it's NOT representative of UK endurance but brings the whole sport into disrepute. Of course, a good many people feel that however upsetting, these awful things must be kept in the public eye, or there is no hope of change. It is not clear how Endurance GB plans to 'manage' every piece of negative endurance publicity or debate...nor why this might be necessary...

It remains, however, a reality that endurance racing in some countries is a nightmare for the horses that compete and sometimes die in awful circumstances.
 
It is absolutely disgusting and I gave up endurance this year when it was decided that EGB were going to be sponsored by the UAE! I refuse to have anything to do with them and certainly would not compete with a society that is taking money from them. Endurance will change in this country unfortunately and we will be powerless to stop it.

Whilst most of me feels sorry for the lady who sold her horse to them, the other tiny part doesn't. This sort of treatment has been going on for years and 20 years ago a friend of mine was offered a six figure sum for her horse which she turned down. There was no way she was going to sell one of her horses to these people. The Australian lady concerned could not have been that blinkered to realise what sort of life her horse would have, but then money talks sadly!
 
RIP Bundy

Mitchyden said:
It is absolutely disgusting and I gave up endurance this year when it was decided that EGB were going to be sponsored by the UAE! I refuse to have anything to do with them and certainly would not compete with a society that is taking money from them. Endurance will change in this country unfortunately and we will be powerless to stop it.

Whilst most of me feels sorry for the lady who sold her horse to them, the other tiny part doesn't. This sort of treatment has been going on for years and 20 years ago a friend of mine was offered a six figure sum for her horse which she turned down. There was no way she was going to sell one of her horses to these people. The Australian lady concerned could not have been that blinkered to realise what sort of life her horse would have, but then money talks sadly!
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It is frustrating that people are cross about seeing what happened to this horse. The sensible response to upsetting images is to feel upset then wish to do something about the issues portrayed not to feel upset, want them taken away so no one else will be aware of them to be upset by them, then to have a go at the person who put them there. It is just shooting the messenger and helping to hide the problems.

We aren't powerless, what endurance can do is grow. The grass roots members can be stronger in numbers. I gave up other disciplines in favour of endurance a few years ago and have never had such a brilliant time riding. More people should try it, it is NOTHING like the videos of thin arab men on thin arab horses cantering in deserts with 4x4s and it never has to be if the UK model is better supported. The answer isn't to leave, its to stay and to bring a friend or five.
 
Mitchyden said:
Whilst most of me feels sorry for the lady who sold her horse to them, the other tiny part doesn't. This sort of treatment has been going on for years and 20 years ago a friend of mine was offered a six figure sum for her horse which she turned down. There was no way she was going to sell one of her horses to these people. The Australian lady concerned could not have been that blinkered to realise what sort of life her horse would have, but then money talks sadly!
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She did not sell the horse. She was the trainer for this horse when he was in Australia before the owner sent him to the UAE.
 
Flame_ said:
RIP Bundy

We aren't powerless, what endurance can do is grow. The grass roots members can be stronger in numbers. I gave up other disciplines in favour of endurance a few years ago and have never had such a brilliant time riding. More people should try it, it is NOTHING like the videos of thin arab men on thin arab horses cantering in deserts with 4x4s and it never has to be if the UK model is better supported. The answer isn't to leave, its to stay and to bring a friend or five.
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I have been doing endurance for sixteen years and unfortunately it has changed so much and not in a positive way. People who I used to know and respect have shown their true colours during this deal with Meydan and I want no part of it! Group 7 will still continue to do what they want regardless of what EGB say and do. As for saying the grass root members will be stronger in numbers and we should support EGB, I've been there and done that with Arab racing when the Arabs got involved. It completely ruined that sport and I'm not prepared to go through the battle again - it's one that we won't win!
 
palo1 said:
From what I understand, the EGB forum admin requested that images of the horse collapsing were removed. The original poster did remove them, though some members are upset that this request was made. There is a real difference of opinion in UK endurance whether publicising this stuff is helpful: it's NOT representative of UK endurance but brings the whole sport into disrepute. Of course, a good many people feel that however upsetting, these awful things must be kept in the public eye, or there is no hope of change. It is not clear how Endurance GB plans to 'manage' every piece of negative endurance publicity or debate...nor why this might be necessary...

It remains, however, a reality that endurance racing in some countries is a nightmare for the horses that compete and sometimes die in awful circumstances.
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and Meydan is sponsoring british endurance. Shame on you EGB

people who voted Yes
 
Yes they should. But unfortunately people are all too willing to accept their money, either in sponsorship, or selling horses to them for a higher price than they would get in their own country.
 
Flame_ said:
RIP Bundy



It is frustrating that people are cross about seeing what happened to this horse. The sensible response to upsetting images is to feel upset then wish to do something about the issues portrayed not to feel upset, want them taken away so no one else will be aware of them to be upset by them, then to have a go at the person who put them there. It is just shooting the messenger and helping to hide the problems.

We aren't powerless, what endurance can do is grow. The grass roots members can be stronger in numbers. I gave up other disciplines in favour of endurance a few years ago and have never had such a brilliant time riding. More people should try it, it is NOTHING like the videos of thin arab men on thin arab horses cantering in deserts with 4x4s and it never has to be if the UK model is better supported. The answer isn't to leave, its to stay and to bring a friend or five.
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Endurance in the UK is as far as chalk is from cheese to the desert style. IF the sport could grow, then yes it never has to emulate or follow the desert style horror. I have no idea why the membership of EGB voted for the deal as endurance finances in this country are apparently healthy without the arab dollar.

Whatever happens to endurance in this country, it certainly seems necessary for the truth about endurance in certain other countries to be made clear. UK endurance riders feel horrified, embarrassed and revolted by this version of a sport which has been historically underpinned by fundamental welfare and horsemanship values. It is not clear how or why it has been possible for EGB to reach a sponsorship deal with the Sheikhs, but it certainly looks as if both greed, naivety and a genuine hope that it will all be ok on a few people's parts and pressure on others have had that result.

Currently EGB management is looking for ride organisers for the races under the sponsorship deal with and for riders from some of the group VII countries. As a result of the deal EGB has already lost organisers who want nothing to do the sponsorship so it will be interesting to see how that pans out.

In the meantime, hug your horses and be thankful they are not involved in desert style endurance racing.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
This shocked me too, I had no idea they just stuck a stable hand on board and said off you go!

I am confused though about how he managed to break both of his front legs, they can't have just 'gone' could they?
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The significance, I think, is in the final veterinary link in the article, about how (ab)use of medication destabilises joints.
 
NZJenny, no worries :). It's such an emotional piece that it's easy to miss something!

We could make the assumption that a double fracture does not occur under normal usage and therefore could be caused by outside influence... Drugs, nerve blocking to name but a few.

Dab
I love your tagline.
If the blog has moved anyone reading this post then please, don't be inactive. Write to the EEF (emirate equestrian Frederation) and express your feelings. You can write in English.
As far as I am aware, this is possibly the first time that the 'outside world' has proof of this type of incident, they are usually covered up. So don't let Bundys death go past without doing anything.
The vets say there is on average one death per weekend during the season out there. At the end of November 9 horses died in ONE race... No proof, so nothing could be done or said about it.
They have to begin to understand the rest of the world don't want endurance to be this.
 
Absolutely tragic and appalling. All competitors found guilty of any welfare offences should be banned from taking part in races anywhere in the world. money really shouldn't be able to buy this sort of torture.

I doubt writing to any Arabic organisation will make any difference.
 
I am sorry to say that, not recognizing the name of this horse, I passed this thread by. However, I did open the new thread about the article in the Telegraph and am lost for words at what happened to this horse. And then I found a video of him when he was a foal. What a beauty he was.

Rest In Peace, Splitters Creek Bundy.
 
Writing to the emirate equestrian federation possibly won't change the way they race. But it will allow them to see what 'outsiders' feel about this sort of thing. No federation wants bad press, which is why these deaths are always covered up.
 
How awful. I am a member of EGB although I don't compete. I am HOPING with all my heart that in allowing the Meydan people to compete over here the EGB / FEI will have the guts to enforce the very highest standards of horse welfare in the running of their races and to ban those who don't comply.
 
That's absolutely awful!!! I can't bare to look at those pictures :( What a handsome little horse.

What happened exactly? I don't quite understand...was he ridden so hard and far that they just broke? Poor thing.
 
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