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[RC] 30 Min Rule - Jim HollandPersonally, I don't care whether this is passed or not. I think both the BOD and the HWC know that this will have little or no impact on the "welfare" of the horse. Here in the SE, it's pretty much the norm to have a CRI 15 minutes after crossing the finish. (Sometimes we have to assign someone to make sure Ann Stuart doesn't schedule one at 15 minutes when it takes 20 minutes to get back to camp) <VBG> I did 14 rides in 2004, and I'm pretty sure most of them had a 15 minute CRI. I simply get my completion exam at the same time. It would have no impact on me (other than making the vet check less "leisurely" at the finish) and IMHO, negligible impact on the welfare of the horse. This is sorta like Congress passing a law to build a fence across the Mexican border but appropriating no money to fund it. It looks good on the record and they appear to be doing "something", but it accomplishes nothing. There are penalties in AERC for drugging your horse or cutting trail. (Might give you an advantage) but NO penalties for overriding your horse. If AERC REALLY gave a d&^% about the welfare of our horses, they would pass a rule like this, which we ALL know would have an impact: "If John Jones and Dobbin get a metabolic pull, then Dobbin cannot compete in another ride for a month. If Dobbin gets a 2nd metabolic pull, he is done for the year. If John Jones on ANY horse gets 3 metabolic pulls in a ride season, he is done for the rest of that season." If a old "backyard rider" like me can complete 48 out of 60 rides with 19 Top Tens for a total of 2445 miles on four different horses in the heat and humidity of the SE without a metabolic pull, surely the criteria above is not asking too much? It's simply a matter of riding that horse on that trail on that day. If you finish in the Top Ten, fine. If not, you "won by finishing" on a happy healthy horse. The problem occurs when riders cannot properly "read" their horse or when they decide to consciously "move up to the Top Ten" or "ride to win" without regard to whether this is within the capabilities of that horse on that trail on that day. There should be a "penalty" for such action which encourages riders to err on the side of the horse. I have pretty much given up on AERC making any meaningful changes with regard to horse welfare. :( Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic Richard T. "Jim" Holland Three Creeks Farm 175 Hells Hollow Drive Blue Ridge, Ga 30513 (706) 258-2830 www.threecreeksarabians.com Callsign KI4BEN =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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