Re: [RC] Pulse - Punishing the non-Arab breeds -- the problem - Heidi Smith
>here is my
thought, having come from the same sporting background: My horses don't tend to
be the most competitive cutting horses, but I don't expect that sport to change
its expectations to suit my less suitable horses. The fact is that some breeds
and even some individuals just aren't as well suited. The playing field will
never be "level" enough to suit every person or horse. It shouldn't be.
AMEN, Sandy! One HAS to design
criteria to be in the best interests of the majority of horses. Although
I've not found particular breeds to have difficulties, I have on occasion run
into specific individuals that had a difficult time with pulse criteria.
And I would submit that the fact that their hearts have to work harder to get
the same amount of blood circulated is a problem in and of itself--so that
having to meet the criterion that was difficult for them was still a "good
thing" with regard to their being able to participate without
problems.
Should I suggest that horse racing
give my non-sprinters a head-start in order to "level" the playing field?
I think not. Good recovery is simply a trait that is desirable in an
endurance prospect, not to help him "beat the numbers" but to protect his
health. If a horse is less suitable with regard to that trait, he may well
have to participate at a slower speed in order to maintain his health. And
after all, isn't that why we even bother to have vet checks (and criteria to
pass them) in the first place?
