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RE: [RC] Punishing Pulls - Jim Holland

Kim, we already have in place a system that distinguishes between
"Metabolic" and "Rider Option - Metabolic". If the rule simply encouraged
riders to "Rider Option - Metabolic" out early rather than get a metabolic
pull, wouldn't that accomplish the goal? 

Kim, I did the same thing with Magic...I knew he was going to be a basket
case for the first few rides, so I entered him for "training" with no
intention of finishing.  He needed that.  Actually, there is a "hole" in
AERC's pull codes in this area. If I am OK to continue and my horse is
judged "Fit to Continue" and I quit anyway, what pull code is appropriate?
By definition, there isn't one. Maybe we need a "Rider Choice"?

I believe the HWC and our BOD could write a rule that would address all the
concerns you bring up here. I believe even a SMALL, very limited rule in
this area would be worthwhile, but AERC will not even CONSIDER such a rule. 

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

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of kimfuess
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 6:19 PM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] Punishing Pulls

So if AERC started using Jim's system does this mean that every metabolic 
pull would be treated the same?  So if I decide my horse is tired at a vet 
check and pull would this be counted against my record just like a pull from

me thrashing my horse?

It seems a little unreasonable with the system we have set up in AERC that 
EVERY metabolic pull would be treated the same.  So the pull for a horse 
that doesn't feel quite right would be treated the same as the horse that 
was thrashed by his rider?   I can guarantee that if I thought I was going 
to be punished for a M pull that I would do everything possible to avoid 
that....maybe even stay in competition when I would normally pull myself if 
I thought my horse was getting tired or not quite right.  I really don't 
want to be in a position where a "possible" punishment down the road might 
effect my judgement

If this system were put into place, I guess I would have to stop using 
competitions as training or conditioning.  There are many times I will enter

a horse in a 50 or even a 100 just to see how far the horse gets.  I enter 
the rides really not expecting to finish. If I end up pulling in the 
competition it is ususally for metabolics not lameness in these cases.

Not judging whether Jim's idea would be a good or bad idea, I wonder if a 
system like this would change the very nature of AERC endurance.  I know 
other countries use this system.  It probably works really well in nations 
where a competition is really a "race" and where riders are expected to 
perform at a certain level before they enter the "race".  I am not sure how 
this type of consequence would work in AERC with the way it is set up.

I am pretty sure I have had two M pulls in a row and I am not sure how being

banned from competition would have made a difference in my attitude or my 
riding.  What I do know is that if Jim's system was in place I probably 
would not have entered those rides and would not have gained the wealth of 
knowledge that helped me fine tune the issues with my horse.  I am pretty 
sure that I could not have done that in training.  I learned a lot from 
those pulls and I can honestly say that I don't think my horse suffered from

me causing the M pull.

I commend Jim for his excellent record but I am not sure that punishing 
metabolic pulls is going to get the results hoped for.  It is really funny 
that when I think of riders who I feel ride irresponsibly, it is rarely the 
ones that get pulled or pull themselves.  But I ride in a different region 
than you, Jim, so my experience may be quite different than what you see.




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Replies
Re: [RC] Punishing Pulls, kimfuess