[RC] Time to revualiate awarding of Best Condition - Phil Gardner
From: Joe Long
<jlong@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [RC] Weight
Divisions
With the AERC Convention
coming up, I believe it's time for the AERC to consider making changes to the
Weight Divisions.
Joe, I couldn’t agree with you more. This brings back
memories of the first years of AERC when this was a hotly debated issue. I
fought hard for no weight divisions and lost. Four weight divisions are way too
many, two would be plenty. As a heavy weight rider I have never felt
disadvantaged by my weight.
Now I would like to bring up Best Condition. Originally BC
was awarded to the horse in the top ten who was in the most superior condition,
in other words; in you had to continue on, which horse you would choose. Then people
who were racing for first place felt that time should be considered and then
weight division people felt weight should be considered. We are now saddled
with a BC judging process that lets other consideration than the condition of
the horse determines the BC winner. It is not possible to do a ride where your
goal is to finish 10th and have your horse in the best possible
condition and win BC because of the other irrelevant factors the judging. The
Tevis Cup is the only ride I know of that has a meaningful BC judging process.
Along with weight divisions BC judging should be revamped to get back to the
original intent of honoring the horse that is actually in the best condition
following a ride.
