Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I remember being at a ride in Mississippi some years ago when three of the
best horses and riders  in the country struck out on the last 16 mile loop
of a 100. The three horses were the current world champion, the ROC champion
that year and the ROC champion the previous year. They ran the last 16 mile
loop in about 40 minutes and they all too about 45 minutes to come to parameters
at the end. They all went on to more rides at the top level. 

How long it takes at the end is more about the last loop than the rest of
the ride. If it ain't broke don't fix it. And there doesn't seem to be any
indication it is broke.

Truman

Joe Long wrote:
> On Tue, 08 Jul 2003 09:10:09 -0700, terre <tobytrot@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Although I have no strong preferences either way, I have always thought 
> > that allowing 60 minutes to reach criteria at the finish is inconsistent 
> > with "fit to continue", since the horse would be pulled for that during the 
> > ride (ie, a horse that does not hit criteria within 30 minutes is NOT fit 
> > to continue).
> >   
>
> > It may be more a matter of allowing people a longer time to pull tack and 
> > clean up before presenting for completion as opposed to an inability to 
> > reach the pulse criterion. And taking the pressure off any vet line-ups, 
> > since BC judging is often happening during this time....
> >   
>
> There are all of those reasons for it, but also the recognition that
> horses racing for placing compete at a higher level of stress on the
> last leg to the finish line, often sprinting against each other for a
> quarter mile, a mile, even four miles or more.  Such sprinting creates
> short-term oxygen debts that can take longer to recover than the pace
> throughout a ride, but are not harmful on the last leg.
>
> Certainly, a horse that needs longer than 30 minutes to recover to 60
> bpm should not continue *at that elevated level of stress* -- but
> unless there are other problems, he is certainly fit to continue at a
> slower pace.  As he is not, in fact, continuing and being stressed
> further, that allows for an extended recovery time.