Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I think that Lynne brings up a very good point in her post.  Conceptually, I 
agree with a 30 minute recovery time at the finish.  I like the idea that 
the "fit to continue" criteria is consistent throughout the ride.  If we 
believe that "fit to continue" is meeting criteria within 1/2 hour at every 
vet check it seems that meeting criteria in 60 minutes at the finish is a 
completely different definition of what is "fit to continue".  To me, it is 
so silly that you can have a vet check 1 mile from the finish line and the 
horse must meet criteria in 1/2 hour and then after going only one more mile 
that same horse has an hour to meet criteria.   Ideally, I feel that the vet 
check criteria and finish line criteria should be the same.  But some 
changes at the ride management level need to be in place to make this work 
well if it is put in place.

The problem I see is not only that there is added hassle to the rider (which 
there will be at many rides and for many riders) but that ride management 
will have to set up the finish line and final vetting area just like they do 
at a vet check.  No more finish lines 1/2 to 1 mile from basecamp for safe 
finishes. Ride managers may need to set up an "extra check area" with water 
& feed near the finish line/final examination area so riders can leave a 
crew bag, cooler, etc. if basecamp parking is very spread out.  Also, 
perhaps vets will need to be more flexible about vetting horses through 
tacked just as they do at some vet checks so riders aren't spending their 
entire 30 minutes walking backing back and forth from their trailer.

I can think of at least three or four rides in the PS region that would have 
to move their finish line because it takes a long time just to get back to 
base camp from the finish line.  I can also think of a ride where the 
basecamp is located quite far from where the vetting and ride management is 
set up and another one that has base camp spread out all over a large area.

As with most rules that tighten pulse criteria or time frame for recovery, 
the rider with crew will be gaining a greater advantage than the rider who 
has to go it alone.    In FEI, every rider has a full crew in most 
situations so this factor was probably was never a consideration.  There is 
no question in my mind that I would race in differently knowing that I had a 
full crew to help my horse recover, have water and food and a cooler, at the 
finish line than if I knew I had to drag my horse back to the trailer to 
untack etc. and that was going to take an extra 15 minutes of going back and 
forth.  Me racing differently would have nothing to do with the condition or 
fitness or welfare of my horse but with the logistics of the finish 
line/vetting area and if I had crew to help me at the finish line.  But as 
was mentioned before, this rule is not being considered to make a level 
playing field.

I like to see consistency in rules and feel this would make the "fit to 
continue" concept should be the same for the vet checks and for the finish 
line.  I do want to think that horses that pass the finish criteria are as 
fit to continue down the trail as those that pass a vet check during 
competition. But, there are some real logistics that need to be worked out 
if we adopt this new rule and unfortunately, these will fall on the 
individual ride manager.  It certainly will not be reasonable to have a 
rider walk 1/2 mile from the finish line to the vet or basecamp and expect 
the rider to do a reasonable job caring for his horse and having him ready 
for a final check in 30 minutes.  If 6 riders come in top 10 and have to 
weigh at the finish line there will be precious time lost to horse care if 
these horses must be presented within 30 minutes.





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Weary" <bweary@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2007 2:23 PM
Subject: [RC] 30 Minute Rule



>   I can sympathize with the added hassle factor in the shorter time frame, 
> but don't the same or greater challenges exist at 15 or 30 minute holds 
> out on the trail? And there is usually more that has to be done even 
> faster in setting up and breaking down at a vet check. Plus, the horse's 
> need for rest is even more crucial at a vet check, as he is going back out 
> on the trail. We cope with that. At the finish line, he's got the rest of 
> the night to "party down," with no more workload to contend with. I think 
> we have to keep in mind that rules like this are not designed to level the 
> playing field--fitter horses will always do better, regardless of the 
> hindrance of stricter recovery or finish criteria.


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