I just don't think that if a horse does 10 100s over two ride
seasons and never is raced again that this is the same as a horse that
completes 10 100s over 8 rides seasons and is still out there
competing.
Dabney
responds:
Kim, I agree it's "not
the same thing," and we all want horses that will last more than 2
seasons. But, that's still assuming
the 8 season horse is out there racking up mileage in 50s. What about an 8
year horse that does 10 100's and still doesn't do 50 mile rides in between, but
is conditioned at home, given every other year off, or whatever. I think
that's mixing apples and oranges, based on a desire to reward
longevity.
IMHO, a horse that does
10 100's in any nunber of years has achieved something extraordinary and
wonderful and should be rewarded for that. (Angie's stats were fascinating
to me, in that so many of those Super Star names wouldn't have even made it to
gold!)
Rewarding longevity is
wonderful also, don't get me wrong. But then let's do it separately.
(Aren't we already doing that with the mileage awards?)
I like the idea
of these awards because they give the "backyard 100 miler" (as opposed to
those with the time and funds to compete internationally) some recognition to
shoot for. Don't complicate it by insisting on mileage as well, and we
might have more horses last 8 seasons!
You certainly make a valid point. In the PS, we have
adapted this program for a regional award not affiliated with AERC. In
fact, last night at the Warner Springs ride three PS horses were awarded their
Gold Level Award cooler (which is given for 5 100s and 3,000 miles). It
looks like there will be two more PS horses earning the gold level if they
complete the 20 Mule Team 100 in Febuary.
There are definitely some horses enrolled in our program that have
earned close to double the necessary 100s but have not completed the mileage
requirement. Although, I think it is important that horses to recognize
the number of 100 mile rides completed, I also believe that the system should
also reward 100 mile horses that have longevity in the sport. The one
way this is accomplished is by factoring in a mileage
requirement. As this PS award program evolves, (this is only the
first year), I would like to make available special recognition awards to
horses that have completed several 100s over many rides reasons yet do not
meet the mileage requirement. I think that this special recognition
award will be done by evaluating the individual horse's record on a
case by case basis. I just don't think that if a horse does 10 100s over
two ride seasons and never is raced again that this is the same as a
horse that completes 10 100s over 8 rides seasons and is still out there
competing.
Being that this is sponsored by private individuals and not affiliated
with AERC or a regional club, it will be easier to be able to award
special recognition awards that are not based on a standardized
requirement. If
Kim Fuess
AERC #6648
[RC] BoD Conferenc Call - 100 Mile Horses -
rides2far
Note: PLEASE LOOK AT STATS AT BOTTOM BEFORE DELETING! :-)
OK, some said this system of medals is "too easy" and no challenge. I
thought I'd go back to the horses who were in the 2001 Pan Ams, since
most of them have finished up their careers for the most part, and see
how those horses would rate. My results were interesting. No, it's not
easy to get gold. However, there's some REALLY SUCESSFUL 100 mile horses
who do not make gold because of mileage. I'm not sure how I feel about
that.
For the truly devoted 100 milers who do almost nothing *but* 100 milers
it seems to be difficult to get the long term mileage in, especially in
parts of the country with limited competition weather. By doing one 100 a
month, they're missing some easier miles. Maybe there should be a second
way to make the ratings...higher in 100's but more lenient on miles?
Perhaps 5 100's automatically gets a bronze. 10 a silver and 15 a gold?
That's just off the cuff, but I'd like for you to look a some of the
following stats since I sat through a very slow computer's downloads to
get them for you. :-) I couldn't find the finishing order, but am
listing the individual medal winners, then the medal winning teams, and
then I went through all of USA East's nominees just because I knew them
and it was interesting to me.
If we're really ranking our horses. I can't help but feel some of these
horses are being underappreciated. Picture their ranking if it there were
an ALTERNATE (keep the mileage/100's one too!!!) ranking of 5,10, and 15
100's.
The miles listed are from the AERC database. AERC recognizes
international (non AERC sanctioned) mileage, but doesn't list it, so many
of these horses may have another one or two hundred miles that aren't
AERC. If I *know* they got another 100, like the people who placed here,
I'll add them on.
Pan Am ranking
1st: Crystals Charm 1,550 miles 9 100's (would be considered a bronze in
our system)
2nd: Charbiel 2,925 miles 19 100's (if this mileage is correct, would be
a silver)
3rd: Just Cass 1,455 miles 11 100's (Bronze)
4th (because I know it) Jayel Super 1,615 miles 11 100's (bronze)
Gold medal team: USA East:
Jayel Super 1,615 miles 12 100's (bronze in our system)
Bells Snitzel 1,470 miles 9 100's (bronze)
Shyrocco Troilus 2,260 miles 11 100's (silver)
Phoenix 2,105 miles 12 100's (silver)
Silver team: Central
Windswift Pharrah 1,980 miles 10 100's. (bronze)
Sha Win 10,070 miles 27 100's GOLD!!
Flight Leader 1,345 miles 5 100's (bronze)
LM Mastermind 3,930 miles 24 100's (gold)
Bronze team, Pacific North:
Zahim Al-Din 3,920 miles 9 100's (gold)
Raymond Blur 5,120 16 100's (gold)
NYR Crown Royal 2,815 12 100's (silver)
USA East nominated horses:
General Jeb Stuart 6,390 miles 26 100's GOLD
Big Sky Chance 850 miles 4 100's (no ranking)
Bells Snitzel 1470 miles 9 100's (bronze)
MAS Shanghaisbeau 1,210 miles 6 100's (bronze)
Catch A Wave 1,550 miles 11 100's (bronze)
Shyrocco Troilus 2260 miles 12 100's (silver)
Shiloh 2,805 miles 13 100's (silver)
MC Breathless 1,850 miles 4 100's (bronze)
Karma Phoenix 2,575 miles 11 100's (bronze)
Bearcat O'Reilly 1,655 miles 5 100's (bronze)
Syrocco Jazz 1100 miles 6 100's
Gatyfa Mynte (Honey) 2,330 miles 20 100's (silver)
Phoenix 2,105 miles 12 100's (silver)
Mr. Snickers 2005 miles 3 100's (bronze)
GM Chagall 3,190 miles 15 100's (gold)
Emphatic 1,710 miles 6 100's (bronze)
Kaboot Herlong 3050 miles 7 100's (gold)
Ali Darkness 1,855 miles 9 100's (bronze)
Just Cass 1,455 miles 11 100's (bronze)
DML Smoke Silver 3,150 miles 23 100's (gold)
Smoke Rise Finally 3,260 miles 25 100's (gold)
Carmen Clasix 900 miles 4 100's (none)
Fair Chance 1100 miles 5 100's (bronze)
Shibazzy Flagstaff 2,260 miles 13 100's (silver)
