Re: RC: LD and BC

["Truman Prevatt, Ph.D." <truman.prevatt@netsrq.com>]

There is the "best of all possible worlds" and then there is the real
world. If you have a ride with 100 LD's and you give a BC then you have
3 choices. The first is a poor BC exam by one vet, the second is an
adaquate VC exam by more than one vet and the third is limit the number
of horses that can stand. In the first case it's not fair to give a poor
exam for BC. In the second case, each vet will score things slightly
differently and again it is not fair. In the third case you need
something reasonable to make you cut for the horses that can stand.

An LD is a training ride and it is a traning ride for endurance which,
like it or not is a race. Not that LD's should be a race and the rules
of pulse to finish is the best way to make sure it isn't while still
being an a reasonable training ride for endurance riding (or racing if
you want).

Several years ago we in the SE region dealt with this topic. At that
time each ride had its own method of doing BC for LD. There was no
consistency. When we sit down and did the critical analysis, the only
way that made any sense with the number of riders and the fact LD is a
training ground for endurance was to set the cut at the top 10 to reach
a 60 pulse after the finish line.

Truman 

Scott & Dede Johnson wrote:
> 
> I personally think that if a BC is given for a 25 or 30 mile ride, it should
> be open to all riders that finish within the time parameters given.  If LD
> is supposed to be learning and training, then only allowing the top ten to
> be eligible could cause some folks to go faster than they ought to in the
> hopes of getting BC.  My last ride had only 15 minute holds at the vet
> checks.  I opted to spend more time there making sure my horse got all he
> needed.  This was also only my second ride on this horse so we are still
> figuring things out.  I would like to think that spending a little extra
> time at the vet checks wouldn't keep us from being in the running for BC.
> To me, getting a BC would mean much more than top tenning.  Just my humble
> opinion from a rookie. :)
> 
> Dede

-- 
Truman Prevatt
Mystic “The Horse from Hell” Storm 
Buck's Mystic Karma
Rocket a.k.a. Mr. Misty
Jordy a.k.a. Bridger (when he is good)
Danson Flame - hey dad I'm well now and ready to go!

Brooksville, FL