Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Bottom line on this whole racing thread---

1)  The ride manager has a responsibility to provide a well-delineated
area where a race CAN happen with as much risk removed as possible--enough
room for a run-out, enough room for multiple horses side by side, only the
volunteers essential to the actual timing at the actual finish, etc.  If
this is an absolute impossibility (even by removing the "racing" area from
camp by a mile or two), then the RM has a responsibility to REALLY put the
fear of God into the riders about the situation.

2)  The rider has a responsibility to be in control of his horse.  If he
has NOT taught his horse to be under control (including being able to stop
within the physical limits of what a horse can stop) at racing speeds, he
has NO business racing.  (Personally, this isn't something I teach my
horses until they are 3rd season or so, when they have any business
condition-wise to be racing in the first place--although they already have
learned long before that the proper mechanics of a stop albeit at slower
speeds.)

3)  Furthermore, a rider who runs near the top and might be in a position
to race has the responsibility IMO to check out the finish
area--personally, if possible, or questioning those who HAVE seen it
personally, if not.  One of the things I always have admired about the
Westlake family is how they go down to the finish the night before the
ride and already have in their minds even which side of the road they want
to be on at the finish, should they be in a horse race.  I've heard Terry
chortling post-ride more than once about how he took the right-hand side
of the road because there was a puddle on the left side, or the view of
camp was clearer from the right side, or some other small detail, and he
knew the other horse might hesitate and give him an edge.  At FEI events,
you will see entire squads out reviewing the finish area in advance of the
ride, checking for holes, checking for footing, etc.  This isn't because
it is FEI--it is because riders didn't get to that level without taking
details into account.  If you are going to race, RACE SMART.

4)  Ride like you drive a car on a crowded freeway--ALWAYS be cognizant of
what is happening up ahead, and get your foot off the accelerator BEFORE
you need to--even if it loses you the race.  (I'll never forget going down
a trail full-bore, not quite at the finish, granted, but riding tandem
with a relative novice, behind three riders intent on not being passed. 
We were on a USFS access road, and all of a sudden the trail funneled into
a single track.  It was adequately marked, and it didn't take a rocket
scientist to figure out that the three horses abreast suddenly becoming
three horses single file would mean that we would suddenly hit a
bottleneck and be on their tails if we didn't slow up--I had already
pulled up, but the lady with me didn't even compute the situation that was
arising, and her horse had to take sudden evasive action out through the
woods to keep from flat-out rear-ending the horse in front of her.  He
flipped over a down log and went down, and she went flying off. 
Thankfully she wasn't hurt--and thankfully I WAS already stopped, and
could catch her horse and wait for her to dust herself off and get back
on.  But that's the sort of error that riders make at the finish--they
DON'T THINK AHEAD.  Better to blow a placing than to hurt someone else,
hurt your horse, or hurt yourself!  If your reaction time is as slow as
the scenario Truman pictured--gee, I sure hope that person moves, oh sh**,
they're not, etc.--then you likely shouldn't be racing either.)

Heidi



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They're athletes! This is a partnership between horse and rider - we don't
have any jockeys out there, just pals and partners. We'd allow a rider with
a broken foot, a sore back and a nasty cold to compete - but we would never
let a horse in a similiar condition hit the trail.
~ Dr. Barney Flemming DVM

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