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    Re: [RC] the way we win/redefining endurance - A. Perez


     I read the "Way We Win" site by Matthew Mackay-Smith.
    It seems to me that as long as whatever criteria is
    used to rank or rate riders involves time/speed, over-riding
    will occur.  While the system Mackay-Smith proposes should 
    reduce head-to-head racing, what is to prevent anyone from 
    pushing their horse to hard to 'go for the gold' (or silver or 
    whatever)?  The ranking system he proposes is still based on 
    time to complete, that is: speed.  And it seems to be the speed 
    that kills.
    
     One way to eliminate 'racing' would be to rank horses/riders
    on accumulated distance and the condition of their horses: NOT 
    for the speed in which they finish a race.  I can imagine a 
    system where the only scoring that takes place at a specific 
    ride would be a numeric represntation of your vet score (all 
    A's on your vet card would get you a score of 100, etc) so 
    EVERYONE who brings their horse through fit to continue gets 
    the same recognition, not just one BC winner.  Then each year, 
    riders who achieve specific levels of accumulated distance at 
    sanctioned rides would be recognized (500,1000, 3000 miles, 
    etc, say). I suppose there could be rankings for horses, riders 
    and horse/rider combos, all based on accumulated distance.  In 
    this system what gets rewarded is keeping your horse fit, and 
    going the distance: period.  Faster riding gets you nothing.  
    Your horse goes lame because you rode it too hard?  Then your 
    accumulated mileage suffers for it: a disincentive to over-ride 
    your horse.  It also seems  that the number of vet-checks and 
    times of holds should be mandated for all sactioned rides.
    
    Thoughts?
    
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