Completion times

["Linnea Skoglund" <skoglund@lamar.colostate.edu>]

I am a newbie so please be patient.  I have really enjoyed this 
thread on time limits and completions.  I entered two LDs last year.  
The first was pretty much flat and open.  The second was in the 
mountains and far more demanding for my little paso.  Now the ride 
manager (different for each ride) was concerned about us rookies in 
the mountains so had longer hold times.  I presumed the purpose of 
the longer holds was to make sure our horses were rested and not 
moving too fast.  But that meant we had less actual ride time and had 
to move at a faster pace to complete in time (an important factor 
for me as I intend to make a career of winning tail ender awards).  
That seemed counter productive to me.  I believe the same could have 
been said of the 50s.   Can someone explain the logic of this to me?  
Yes, I know some rides are more difficult than others (thank goodness 
they aren't all equal!).  But what is the point to slowing riders 
down, ie. more hold time, and at the same time make them ride harder? 
I must be missing something here.  Help me to see the light here 
guys. :-}

Linnea & Pesadilla
(BTW, no criticism implied here, Brad and other RMs)


****************************************************
Linnea G. Skoglund, Ph.D.
Dept. Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
970.491.6950
970.491.3862 (fax)
skoglund@lamar.colostate.edu
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