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Re: [RC] [RC] Awards, the horse's perspective - Joe LongOn Thu, 15 Jul 2004 14:34:22 +0000, "Nancy Mitts" <mitts_n@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: This makes the assumption that all top ten riders have ridden their horse to the edge of it's ability and need an enforced, extended rest. There are small rides where there might be one or two fast times and the rest of the top ten just trickle in. Sometimes only 10 complete. Nancy Mitts The assumption comes up short even for large rides and competitive riders. Many times during Kahlil's career we raced for first place two or three times a month. I would sometimes use a 50-mile ride as a "tuneup" for a 100-mile ride a week later, and still run for first place on the 50. Kahlil never suffered any ill effects from this schedule (and he's now 31 and still a sound and happy horse). For a fit, talented horse, an extended rest is only needed if he has been overridden, where he has been damaged by excessive stress. He will recover fully from a vigorous effort that is *within* his abilities in a few days. The multi-day rides demonstrate that good horses well ridden can Top Ten day after day and stay fit and healthy. Jim has put his finger on a real problem, in that there are riders who overdo and then bring the horse back and overdo again, with the horse not yet recovered from the previous abuse. That is a downward spiral to disaster. I agree that we need to work to alleviate that, but a blanket rule that penalizes everyone for the wrongs of a few is not, in my opinion, a workable way to go about it. -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxx http://www.rnbw.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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