Ridecamp: Re: [RC] the way we win/redefining endurance

 I read the "Way We Win" site by Matthew Mackay-Smith.
It seems to me that as long as whatever criteria is
used to rank or rate riders involves time/speed, over-riding
will occur.  While the system Mackay-Smith proposes should 
reduce head-to-head racing, what is to prevent anyone from 
pushing their horse to hard to 'go for the gold' (or silver or 
whatever)?  The ranking system he proposes is still based on 
time to complete, that is: speed.  And it seems to be the speed 
that kills.

 One way to eliminate 'racing' would be to rank horses/riders
on accumulated distance and the condition of their horses: NOT 
for the speed in which they finish a race.  I can imagine a 
system where the only scoring that takes place at a specific 
ride would be a numeric represntation of your vet score (all 
A's on your vet card would get you a score of 100, etc) so 
EVERYONE who brings their horse through fit to continue gets 
the same recognition, not just one BC winner.  Then each year, 
riders who achieve specific levels of accumulated distance at 
sanctioned rides would be recognized (500,1000, 3000 miles, 
etc, say). I suppose there could be rankings for horses, riders 
and horse/rider combos, all based on accumulated distance.  In 
this system what gets rewarded is keeping your horse fit, and 
going the distance: period.  Faster riding gets you nothing.  
Your horse goes lame because you rode it too hard?  Then your 
accumulated mileage suffers for it: a disincentive to over-ride 
your horse.  It also seems  that the number of vet-checks and 
times of holds should be mandated for all sactioned rides.

Thoughts?

________________________________________________
Get your own "800" number
Voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more
http://www.ureach.com/reg/tag

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws 
 Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=