STOP EXCUSING EQUESTRIAN

I read with dismay the last paragraph of the Aug. 29 editorial, "Show
jumper deserves his chance at redemption." Whatever force your otherwise
articulate plea might have had was dissipated by your unprincipled attack
on Ron Southern. Mr. Southern is certainly not in need of any defence by me
or anyone else. His accomplishments in business, in furthering equestrian
sports and in his personal life speak for themselves. He is entitled,
without apology to anyone, to give action to his conviction that substance
abuse has no place on the fields of Spruce Meadows.

As a medico-legal practitioner in the substance abuse area, I believe the
so-called extenuating circumstances that have saved Eric Lamaze in the past
have been trotted out once too often. Such circumstances might be an
explanation, but should certainly never be considered an excuse for bad
behaviour. Mr. Lamaze should be held to no higher or lower standard than
any other professional equestrian and mentor of young people.

The rule is simple: If you dope yourself or your horse, you can't play.

As the father of a young woman rider who subscribes to the rules and ethics
of the Canadian Equestrian Federation, competes and coaches children, I see
nothing less as acceptable. Three strikes should only apply to baseball --
not redemption.

As for Mr. Southern's "howls," it is about time that someone took a
principled position, even at the risk of scurrilous attacks at the hands of
uninformed editorial writers. Do some research and understand the man
before you attribute base motives.

R.W. Dykeman
Freedom Fields Farms
Surrey