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RE: [RC] [RC] LD's - heidiWell, at the last 50 mile ride I did, the winner did the 50 miles in UNDER 3 1/2 hrs. How much faster do you really think any LD riders is going to go then that? It it is safe to ride 50 miles at that speed, why all the frowing at riding just as fast on a shorter distance? You cheered and praised the 50 miler for running her horse an avarage of 14+ mph for 50 MILES. But do the same for a 30 mile LD ......... It sometimes blows my mind at the speeds the 50 mile (and sometimes even 100 mile) races are run in.. I know this seems counter-intuitive, but it truly is scarier to see faster speeds on the shorter distances. The big difference is that a horse can maintain high speeds for 25 miles without taking care of himself, and can finish the ride and still be in big trouble. (Yeah, yeah, I know this can happen at longer distances, too--but we're talking likelihoods here.) This was the big problem "back in the day" when 25s and 30s were actually sanctioned as endurance rides--horses could breeze through without eating or drinking, and tended to get in really BIG trouble. Also, the vets only have a couple of opportunities to see the LD horses, as opposed to (usually) more checks on the 50s. Bottom line--the horse that doesn't take care of itself on a 50 will be pulled at those speeds, and won't make the distance. A horse that is capable of taking care of himself at those speeds can just as easily do 50 as 25--but the horse that doesn't take care of himself can do 25 at those speeds and get into big trouble. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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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