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Re: [RC] WEC Completion Rate - Joe LongOn Fri, 28 Jan 2005 15:40:28 GMT, Ridecamp Guest <guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Stagg, Perhaps the completion rate is not much different BUT shouldn't the completion rate be higher because the caliber of horses and riders are assumed to be the best the world has to offer. This doesn't necessarily follow. The Race of Champions in 1987 had less than 20% finish. Yes, you are bringing the best and most experienced riders and horses to the event. However, you are also putting them under the greatest pressure. When the stakes are high and the caliber of your competition is high, you have to make a greater effort to succeed. That means pushing the envelope, riding "closer to the edge." When the riders do that, more of them are going to go over the edge. This is not necessarily a bad thing, if there is good vet control and the horses are not harmed -- that is, if they are pulled before there is serious damage. But however you feel about it, this is a fact of life at the highest levels of competition in any sport. I agree with those who feel that flat, fast courses like those we've seen in these recent events are particularly dangerous to the horses, and that in these high-pressure events such courses will result in both lower completion rates and a higher rate of serious injury -- even death -- to horses. I would like our FEI representatives to do what they can to move toward more "technical" courses, but I fear that our influence will not be enough to have much impact. -- 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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