Re: RC: Malibu LD Incident/LD BC

[Lynne Glazer <lynne@glazer.org>]

>
>I have been looking through my "Endurance News" and it seems to my that
>other areas give more Best Condition awards to the LD.  Perhaps the rider
>managers could do that in the PS region.  I was totally thrilled to receive
>this award.  I have always tried to do the right thing on the trail, to my
>fellow riders, and most importantly, to my horse.  I know there are many
>other LD riders who do the same.  It was nice to be rewarded in such a big
>way!
>
>Thanks to Tammy Robinson and  Fred Beasom, DVM, we appreciate the award.
>
>Kathy & Taz

Uh, oh, another one of my buttons has been punched.

Kathy, AERC has a policy of only giving points to LD BC if the BC 
judging is applied using the same worksheet used for the 50 milers. 
This in addition to vet score includes weight and time points.

If the ride manager opts to use their own system, then the winner's 
name is not even printed in Endurance News.

As others here are probably weary of hearing me say it, I am very 
unhappy about a national system that encourages LD riders to race in 
order to even be considered for Best Condition.

Since you are new, you probably don't know that with the exception of 
one ride manager, all of us in the southern half of PS give BC to 
LDers at our rides.  Some of us award BC to 5 riders, with one top 
prize.  Some of us even have "Honorable Mention" horses as well.  We 
have different methods of doing this--some use weighting factors on 
the vet card, some use just the vet portion of the 50s BC worksheet.

Kathy, not all regions conduct their LDs the same.  In the SE, for 
instance, racing LD is perfectly normal.  In PS, I think most of us 
feel that LD is where horse and rider learn to be a team, and that it 
provides a great introduction to the sport.  Many people ride LD as a 
career, because of physical limitations of themselves or their 
horses, or just preferring to be out there for less time, or not 
being able to condition for the longer distance.  For those of us 
that don't encourage (or reward) placement, the Best Condition gives 
riders something to shoot for--who can finish with their horse in the 
best shape according to the vet(s).

At the Norco ride, we consider the whole field, which is a PITA for 
the vets but <shrug> I like doing it this way.   Even once you're 
doing 50s, you'll still really value that BC.  My horse won a blanket 
once for an LD BC--and that's as meaningful as the Sweepstakes money 
she won at a IAHA ride this year.  :-)

Regards,
Lynne

Norco Riverdance Ride (PS) 9/1/01...I see we missed the EN listing, darn it.
2 posts in one day, yikes.