 |
[RC] LD/BC - Bruce Weary DCHeidi-- I think I finally see where we have been miscommunicating regarding the LD/BC procedure. Once the horses involved have all crossed the finish line safely and met their post-ride criteria without complication, and proper placings have been assigned to the properly prepared horses who were able to go fast enough to be considered for BC without undue stress, the vet assessment procedure for that particular sub-group of horses is fine. I think we can agree on that. Let's back up a step. Forget about the finish line and everything that comes after that. Let's go out on the trail where there may be a novice rider and unprepared horse who, together, are taking the trail at a pace well beyond their ability to do so safely. Maybe the horse is fired up, maybe the rider is simply allowing himself to be swept along with the fast pace of the lead horses, or maybe he heard about a BC award that is given, but you have to be a front runner to be considered for it. Either way, the horse is going too fast and at risk, and the rider is clueless due to his inexperience. A properly executed BC evaluation at the finish line can't protect that horse or undo whatever negative metabolic event or lameness that might ensue. In other words, the potential problem is out on the 25-35 miles of trail, not at the vet inspection, as far as the health and safety of the unprepared horse is concerned.The criticism of the LD/BC I think boils down to this question, and I would appreciate hearing your response to it specifically-- " Since ride time (speed) is a factor in BC, how do we prevent the newbie rider from inadvertantly going too fast in pursuit of a chance at BC that they by definition cannot safely do because of their unpreparedness without changing the speed component of the BC evaluation?" Thanks, Bruce =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|