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[RC] NC/Holds - paulI much prefer fewer holds. Those 30 minute deals are not restful. By the time you take tack off, vet through, and re-tack, you haven't rested your horse, or yourself. I loved the Tevis vet check model of mostly gate and goes with only two holds of one hour. We were able to vary our self made hold times/ rest and refuel stops to suit ourselves. At some of the gate and goes we spent 10 minutes. At some we spent almost 30 minutes. Here is something to think about. The Duck XP rides all have only one hold for the 50 miles don't they? Look up their completion rates. Look up how many horses there complete 2-3-4 or even 5 days. Look up how they do on career longetivity. Now compare that to the AERC averages. Any difference? My question would be, what is the concept that we need two holds in a 50 miles ride based on? Is there any research to support that belief? In 2007, the Old Dominion added a second hold to the 30 mile LD. It was really hot, and the thinking was that we needed to give the horses more time to rest and cool off. The way it turned out was that only 2 out of 45 entries finished the 30 mile ride in time. The second hold killed us. The horses just stayed hot, and couldn't move (we were in a wooded area with zero breeze, and tight quarters). My feeling is that the second hold hurt much more than it helped. For those cooler times of year, how much good does it do a horse to stand still for 30- 45 minutes in a cold rain/sleet/wind circumstance after going 15-18 miles at the trot and canter? We put sheets and blankets on them, but it seems to me that they are still going to be more likely to get tight or cramped muscles. Anyways, it is something to think about. Paul N. Sidio Spokane MO =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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