Re: RC: Best condition

[Peggy Rinehart <rubyjwl@cts.com>]

Hi Lif,

I couldn't agree more!  It seems to me that Best Condition award addresses
overall horsemanship.  In addition this award sets a performance benchmark
over and above "winning" which is unique among equestrian competitions.  I
keep thinking of Charismatic who crossed the finish line at Belmont in third
place and won that purse.  Unfortunately his leg was broken.  The NTRA
doesn't offer an award for Best Condition, but if it would encourage the
kind of care, training, conditioning, and old fashioned horsemanship which
prepares horses to cover 100 miles/day and remain sound and eager to
continue, maybe they should consider it.

Peggy Rinehart (and Yazhi)
Ramona, CA

At 02:05 PM 8/25/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Paul & I have always thought that Best Condition awards are not highly
>enough rated.  In our competitive culture, that's understandable.
>Someone who gets over the finish line first does seem more like a
>"winner" than someone who comes in later on (but with a horse in better
>shape).
>
>I really think that BC should get more glory - but how?  Seems to me
>that there's another thing you can count on in our culture - that is,
>where the money is, glory will follow.  For some time now I've chewed on
>the idea of somehow pouring money into a BC fund, to finance awards for
>BC winners, certainly at the national level, hopefully at the regional
>level, and maybe even broader scoped than that.  It would be one thing
>that could be done to really egg on competition but not at the horse's
>expense!  Horses won't die or suffer for this award!  It would improve
>our sport in a way that other National Championships can't.
>
>I'm not sure how it would work, and I haven't won the lottery yet to
>finance it, but I keep thinking about it.  Lif
>
>--
>                                     ____________
>Lif & Paul Strand   STRAND ENTERPRISES   http://www.fasterhorses.com
>           Arabian Horses for Distance Riding
>         Internet Research * WebArt * Fine Art
>                     Quemado, NM  USA
>
>
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
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