Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

In 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!!

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