Experimental Endurance Event

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We too prefer the challenging rides. I do especially in that tough
terrain and grades seem to level the playing field between H/W riders
and featherbutts, ah, featherweights. We are, however, considering
putting on a track-type, AERC-sanctioned endurance ride at our Oregon
ranch, The Cascade Center for Endurance.

We are currently building a 2-mile interval training track with various
grade options. This track connects to 6, 10, and 12 mile loops through
forrest. Our elevation changes run from 400 to 1700 feet per loop.

Does anyone think there would be any benefit to doing a 50, or 100 ride
which returns to the ranch every 10 or 12 miles. Each return would be a
vet check at which the horses would be weighed, blood and sweat samples
taken, etc. We have a portable lab available that could do on-site
blood chemistry, lactates, etc. Also video documentation would be
provided. We would probably have a vet, or vet student for every four
horses.

Holds would begin at the in-timer upon arrival so that blood could be
taken within 60 seconds of arrival. This unique system would be
necessary as the horse's spleen start to resorb very quickly after
ceasing work. In any case, each horse would have to pass a CRI and
other strict criteria before being allowed to continue the trail.

What we are thinking is that there are few, if any, racing environments
where riders can get *very* detailed information about their horses
under stress.

We might do this just for our horses anyway so breaking even is not
really an issue. I suspect that the entry for a 50 with 5 blood
work-ups might be around $200. A 100 miler with 10 work-ups might be
somewhere in the neighborhood of $350. Expenseive for a ride, but quite
reasonable for a full-on stress profile. By the way, a blood chemistry,
not including lactates, currently runs us about $40 if we pull the
sample and deliver it to the lab ourselves.

So, what do you think folks, too much science and not enough trail? Or,
is there something new to be learned from this sort of field test?

Ramey

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