I usually walk the last .3 mile into the vet check and usually pulse in within
1 minute. If it has no hold I just offer my horse water and go. If it is the
first check of a 100 I will walk out of camp with a flake in my hand and let
him eat while we walk together. He doesn't need the feed for a 50 but I feel it
is much more important for a 100. I am not racing but I don't like to be out
there all day either. ( Meaning I don't want to push the maximum times although
sometimes I do )
>This year there was no hold at all, you just called for P & R's
>when you thought horse was ready, and would be given a mandatory
>15 min hold if horse was too high. My daughter and I came in,
>probably already below parameters, but I got her off to stretch
>her legs, water horses, clean them up, gave bran mash, etc. (keep
>in mind we were not "competing", just wanted to finish in good
>shape) We were at the vet a total of about 45 min, then finished
>the ride.
A fit horse like your mare doesn't really need all that attention in the middle
of a 25 although I'm sure she enjoyed it. If the vet check was back at camp I
might do the same thing in a 25. Why rush it? You paid to have fun and that is
all part of the enjoyment.
>Well, a lady I talked to with a 9 year old girl (first ride), who
>was the first junior in, were at the vet check a total of 2
>minutes!! How can this be possible? That is hardly enough time to
>water the horses. The lady also told me when she does 50's, she
>has gone through vet checks in 50 seconds! Now, even assuming
>there is no wait, that just doesn't seem possible to me.
Some peoples perceptions of time are off a little. However 2 minutes is
feasable if the PR people were ready, her horses already down to criteria and
the vets just waiting on her. Even 50 seconds is possible if everybody was
waiting on her and the vet does a cursory review only. In reality though the
vet check takes some time and I usually find more lost time waiting for people.
Five minutes is my time through a stop & go if there are plenty of vets. If you
are trying to win those are great times but a more relaxing pace is less
stressful.
>That lady did the ride in 3 hours, with a 2 minute stop, we did it in
>4:45, with a 45 minute stop at the vet (this was a 25).
Congratulations on a well done ride. You horse doesn't care whether you were
first or not. AERC wants no racing in 25's and attempts to discourage it in
every way possible. You rode a 6 mph pace which is perfect for a easy 25. Your
horse will last longer and get more miles at that pace.
Good luck!
Jim Mitchell
navion@bak2.lightspeed.net
Bakersfield, Calif