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Re: [RC] [AERC-Members] Protecting Our Horses, Protecting Our Sport - Truman PrevattIn order to solve any problem we need to understand that problem. As you point out "we just don't know." The AERC, however, provides a wonderful laboratory to look at how horses respond to stress.The late nobel prize physicists Richard Feynman used to say, "when you don't fully understand a phenomenon you need to go to the laboratory." We need to go to the laboratory. I would suggest on every ride we collect at a minimum the following data on all rides for at least two seasons: Weather conditions Trail conditions Elevation gain Elevation loss Mileage between check Hold time at each check For each horse In times at each check and finish Out times at each check and finish - allow the calculation of recovery time Completion status If he/she got pulled for M or RM - at what check Any treatment required After the first season the data can start to be analyzed for any treands and these trends can be validated with the second season data. In reality it would be nice if the above were required in the normal reporting process. There may be more. The above would add a large amount of data and fill in some of the holes in the database. It should be easily obtainable since most of it is already on the timing sheets of the ride. The AERC could develop a standard Excel spread sheet and supply it to ride managers that would help in reporting this data. Some say we need a check on the average of every 15 miles. Some say we need one hour holds. Some say we need shorter recovery periods. Some say we need to base the time limit on the ride time not elapsed time. Some say all or part of this is all BS. The only way to make any educated proposals is to collect and analyze sufficient data. If you don't under stand the problem - you can't very well solve it. Truman Stagg Newman wrote: Question: How can we better protect our horse. Response Desired: Good ideas as part of a brainstorming session. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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