<< I am sure MANY a rider will tell you how much better a horse is with
  back-to-back competitions.  This same horse in 1988 did 4-5 rides every
  weekend in a row and got stronger with each (almost all 50's)..then started
  to show a decline.  >>
 
 It's called "supercompensation". The decline is called "overtraining".
 
 ti>>>>>
Ten-four...I think a lot of this happens with our endurance horses..not
enough time off
(unfortunately, mine now have too much time off)