I would like to modify this just a bit, though. ?I have no problem with putting a cap on the pace for new riders - where an LD really *is* a training ride, or on ANY distance ride for an "experienced rider" who is showing SAS syndrome, etc. ?I like Susan's idea of more stringent vet criteria for these folks, and a different colored card I think would work well.
The issue I see here is: ?how do you put an experienced rider into this category? ?This is where I can see value in the Aussie system of penalty points. ?A rider that accumulates too many of them at multiple rides is automatically "knocked back" into the "training" category. ?Now - if they are riding 50's, 75's or 100's-- we could modify that so that they can still do those distances, but have to abide by a slower pace and more stringent criteria.
That depends on the assumption that these *are* just training rides. ?That isn't always the case. ?Lots of different people ride LDs, not just folks who are bringing a horse along. ?There are older horses that can be very competitive at LD distances, but are not up to a 50, older riders - same issue, ?etc. ?Putting a cap on how fast you can run the LD would take something away from those riders. ?You would need to put something else in there, and I think all you would end up with is CTR.
On Nov 7, 2007, at 10:29 AM, Bonnie Peralez wrote:
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Would it be easier to just put a time limit on how fast you can run the LD ride? Since these are “training” rides ?....
