Hot-blooded equestrians are trying to assemble a worldwide posse to trample an unlikely opponent -- Mercy Corps, the Portland-based relief organization known for aiding disaster victims, not for helping stage horse races. Mercy Corps managers were taken aback Monday by allegations that a 534-mile race across Mongolia, billed as the "biggest baddest equine affair on the planet," would expose riders to wolf attacks, bubonic plague, rabies, flash floods, foul water, poisoned food, theft and assault.... "I doubt Mercy Corps realizes the depth of anger that is building in the equestrian world," said CuChullaine O'Reilly of The Long Riders' Guild, a Swiss-based association of equestrian explorers. "This is an international incident, and Mercy Corps is now deeply involved."
OK, so you think you're doing a good thing by creating a new and different way to raise money for charity. Of course, no matter how pure and good your intentions, it seems there's always someone out there ready, willing, and able to rain on your parade.
If someone is willing to compete in this race and expose themselves to "wolf attacks, bubonic plague, rabies, flash floods, foul water, poisoned food, theft and assault," then shouldn't that be there decision to make? And if it can be demonstrated that the horses employed in the race will be adequately and properly cared for, then does The Long Rider's Guild even have a legitimate gripe? This is, after all, a ride designed to raise money for a good and charitable cause. It's difficult to imagine that an organization with an international reputation for caring and good works like Mercy Corps could possibly be cavalier with the well-being of the horses or competitors involved in this race.
I can't help but wonder if there are other forces at work here. Perhaps The Long Rider's Guild simply feels that they should have been more involved in the planning of the race? Perhaps they're upset that they weren't consulted as Mercy Corps put the race together? Perhaps something worse or more sinister? Who knows? Whatever the reason(s), it seems there's a lot of misdirected anger emanating from The Long Rider's Guild towards a non-profit looking to raise funds in a manner that's a bit out of the box. That's a bad thing?
Once upon a time, I worked for Mercy Corps, and I can vouch for the fact that it's nothing close to uncaring, exploitative, nor dismissive of human or animal well-being. Perhaps Mercy Corps is "guilty" of not consulting the "right" people in the "right" manner, but to make the accusations being thrown out by The Long Rider's Guild is neither fair nor accurate. Perhaps someone needs to re-focus their anger and frustration in a more positive direction?
