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Re: [RC] [RC] who is captain of the ship - Nancy Mitts

As long as speed is in the BC equation there is incentive to go faster than everyone else. If there is no speed in the equation then it's really just a horse show, the vet gets to judge who they think should win. 9 times out of ten it's going to go to the horse with their head and tail up prancing over the laid back horse with level head carriage and no flambouyance.
As a case in point, one ride I was on our stallion and Monte his mare Candy. Racer was wanting to quit me on trail and I was trying to figure out whether it was "for real" or whether he was just ready to stay in camp & watch for girls. Candy as usual was clipping down the trail at her steady pace, ears forward and perky. At the next vet check, Racer was in full show off mode and passed the check with flying colors. Candy, as usual, entered the check and put in in park. Veteran of many 100's, if she's not eating she's sleeping. In the vet line she was dozing. The vet went over her again and again. Admittedlly he couldn't find anything wrong, he just didn't like her looks. He tried to convince Monte to pull. "Anyone can see that she's in bad shape compared to the black horse," he said. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Even though I decided (this time) Racer's problem was mental, and we did BOTH go on to complete the ride in good shape, he was not in "better condition" than the mare. I'm not faulting the vet, as they can only judge what they see before them in that 2 minutes or so. He did the right thing and let the horse go as the pulse, CRI, gut sounds, etc said everything was okay.
I still think it's an honor to be chosen "BC" of the first ten to finish. I'd just hate to see the entire sport revolve around it, as looks can be deceiving.

Nancy Mitts

From: "Jeannie Gillen" <jeanniegillen@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 08:06:22 -0800

Again.....if "To Finish is to Win"...why don't we just award "Best Conditions" ...say 3-5 in every class....thereby creating a best condition goal for participants ...
Sure AERC (or someone) may have to come up with a new mix of factors for the BC awards, that might include time and speed..but it seems to me that it would change the focus back toward the original intent of the sport.

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