Actually i think that close rides are won in the vet checks - not on the
trial. I heard an interesting story a few years ago. This was either the
92 or 90 World. Becky Heart won on Rio. there were seven checks and Rio's
total time between the in timer and passing parameters was about 12
minutes! That is less than two minutes from the time you get your in time,
getting the horse down and trucking over to the P&R and being down.
There was also a horse many SE riders might remember, Heat. Heat would
gallop into the check. By the time Ben would get off, and Heat got a
drink, Heat was down. Heat passed more horses in the vet check that I
think anyone can count.
Anything that has the potential of raising the heart rate may in fact
decrease performance.
Truman
Truman Prevatt
Sarasota, FL