RE: Any distance,LD, Australian System (Safe at any speed?)

["Bob Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>]

I beg to differ on this concept of "optimum time" Just what level is optimum
time scaled for. Consider that at times the optimum time for the horse I was
riding was the winning time for that horse that day. Consider as well on
another day the optimum time for that same horse put it in fifth place. What
was the optimum time for that horse at the next ride?

Riding for optimum time is riding for mediocrity. If you are satisfied with
that then so be it, but being average is not being competitive. And
endurance riding is a competitive sport.

It is interesting as well that no one on line has commented about my
response to the article by MMS. I felt there were several contentious points
in his article.

Bob Morris

-----Original Message-----
From: guest@endurance.net [mailto:guest@endurance.net]
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2001 1:54 PM
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: Any distance,LD, Australian System (Safe at any speed?)


Betty bettywashburn@worldnet.att.net
Someone (I think, Marlene) said something several days ago that
has stuck in my brain, and I keep returning to it and pondering.
That is:  having an award for an OPTIMUM TIME to be given at
all of the rides - of any distance.

The criteria could be set by the RM, Vets, and repeat riders for
any given ride, and could be set at the pre-ride meeting.

This could accomplish a number of things:

Not another rule <g>.

Would encourage attendance at pre-ride meetings (I've noticed
that some of the folks who get into/cause trouble blow off
these sessions).

Would really highlight what the collective wisdom deems to be
a "safe" pace for the prevailing conditions.

Would highlight "conditioning/and the fit horse/rider" by
incorporating the knowledge that the committee has, and making
it explicit at the ride.  For instance, I have gleaned/been
told that I should be riding the number of miles per week in
my condiitoning that I expect to do at a ride.  The committee
could say something like...if you riders have been condiitoning
this much, then this OPTIMUM time should work great.  If you
are under this level, go slower.   Those who want to go faster
than OPTIMUM, would still get a reminder of what the collective
wisdom thinks about a given ride...might give some folks a
pause to think about it.

Make the award a reeeeely nice one.

Just thinking out loud,
Betty.


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