WEC Qualities Surfacing in Competition

["Carlos Crespo" <ccrespo@nigma.com>]

In response to my observation about the selection process

discounting other qualities that surface in competition, Heidi states:

 

 

<<Actually, the selectors use that information A LOT, but they also continue to
observe the horse all year to make sure he is on track with what his record
says he is.  No matter how competitive the horse, if he is on the downhill
that particular year, he shouldn't go.  If the head-to-head competition is the
only thing that counts, the injuries sustained in achieving that spot on the
squad don't get sorted out, and we send lame and/or metabolically messed up
horses to the WEC.  We've done that in the past, it didn't work, and that is
why the current system has evolved.>>

Some how it seems to me that there is a lot of dichotomy in your statement

Heidi. If your statement was correct then we have to assume one

of two possible explanations  which are mutually exclusive:

 

 You say that one or two selection races will hurt the horses but looking

at their racing over two years  does not. This either means that....

 

1) over the previous two years everybody has been competing at sub-maximum 

effort in order for their horses to be sound. If this is so, then the record

is a very poor criteria to predict performance under stress and maximum

effort conditions or...

 

2) iIf they are racing at maximum effort over two years, racing 4-6

races a year and their horses are still sound,  then why would they

get hurt by only doing one or two races in lieu of 8-12?

 

I don't think you can be with God and with the Devil at the same time Heidi.

 

We are fooling ourselves thinking that the current system

benefits the horse. If you go out there and try to make a record for yourself

over a two year period, competing in high caliber  rides, and finishing

in the  top,  the wear and tear on the horse will be significantly higher than

if you train and peak for only one or two rides in the entire year.

 

Can the horse get hurt? Sure it can happen. Mine was hurt by just

being put to pasture for 6 months while I recovered from knee surgery.

 

Are horses suffering injuries under the current system? You bet they are. The only

difference is that those horses do not nominate because their records is

faulty and they will not be chosen, though their horse may be just fine by the

time the big contest comes around. We fool ourselves into believing that

the current system is so safe for the horse. It is not, we are just burying

our head in the ground.

 

I advocate a competitive system for selection. The details of how and when

to do it is subject to discussion and evaluation. It could be one race or

2 out of three and use the average finishing times. Preferably, the selection

process should be done with sufficient anticipation so that the team can

be selected at least 6 months before the Race so that the Chef d' Equipe 

has time to maximize his input. Under this concept, every horse has an equal

chance. No one would be discouraged from nominating because they had

one bad year, or did not compete for a year because they had a baby

or personal injury or anything  else. Furthermore, imagine the fund raising

value this concept would provide, with 200 of the best endurance riders 

in the country doing their best to be selected. The money would fall

from the sky because there is excitement and drama about the whole idea.

 

The issue of the sound horse is for the rider to manage not the selection team.

Obviously, if the rider does not finish he/she would not make the team. The rider

has to weight the pros and cons of his/her decision on the trail just like in any

other ride. What better way is there to really see what each horse/rider team

is made off than to see first hand how the make those tough decisions?

 

The question of sending a lame horse should not be an issue.

Regardless of how you select the team, there will always be ranked

alternates. A system can be put in place to ascertain the selected horse

condition to Race prior to departure. If any is not sound, you go to the

alternates.

 

 

Regards,

 

Carlos

Florida