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Re: [RC] Pulse - Punishing the non-Arab breeds -- the problem - Joe LongOn Sat, 15 Feb 2003 21:28:04 EST, FASTGraphic@xxxxxx wrote: Though I basically agree with you, it would also be wrong to work the rules of the sport more to their favor with lower pulse criterion, would it not? As stated before, 72 worked as criterion for quite a long time. This is simply not correct. 72 was commonly used as a criteria for some time (back in the early days when we didn't know what we know today), but it was not "working" as well as was needed. Which was why, as research and experience showed the benefits of lower pulse criteria, we stopped using 72. Other breed riders only seem to want the rules to not be altered to FAVOR the Arabs. I do not believe that a horse with a slightly higher pulse rate than the average Arab is, by virtue of that fact alone, less suitable. Some people seem to be implying, if not claiming, that the lower pulse rates were adopted to favor a particular breed. That is just not true. Pulse recovery has proven to be a highly meaningful indicator of condition of a horse undergoing a stressful activity -- and more importantly, a highly meaningful predictor of the risk of continuing that level of stress. The lower pulse rates common today have proven to be effective at preventing injury and death in endurance horses. Good pulse recovery is an intrinisic factor in what makes a good endurance horse. All else being equal, the horse with lower pulse rates while working, and faster and lower pulse recoveries, is better suited to this activity and a better performer at this activity. Regardless of breed. Pulse rates and recovery rates vary more between individual horses, and their level of conditioning, then they do among breeds. IMO claiming that low pulse criteria discriminates in favor of Arabians and against other breeds is nothing but "sour grapes." And the suggestion that we should sacrifice proven safety techniques to allow horses less well suited to the competition to "win," well ... I won't say what I think about that! -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxx http://www.rnbw.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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