ridecamp@endurance.net: BC judging

BC judging

Samm C Bartee (bartesc@mail.auburn.edu)
Mon, 8 Sep 1997 10:39:45 -0500 (CDT)

Hey guys!! I haven't posted on this list for a while, so I thought I
would jump in and see if I could irritate a few of you!!:-)))

I have had the priveledge this year of going and helping at 10 rides so
far. I haven't ridden once this year due to being sort of in between
horses and having a lot of other things going on in my life that has taken
most of my riding time.

Anyway, on to my point! Being in the "management" end of things for so
many rides, I can tell you that I very rarely have seen anyone whipping or
spurring a horse to complete in faster time. What I HAVE seen is many
riders who know they cannot win, will pull back and actually increase
thier chances at BC. This does work too. I watched a 100 mile classic
race off a couple of years back, and of the 4 horses that went out
together, the 4th pulled back intentionally and won BC. The 3 front
runners were not merely rank beginners with Melissa Crain, Nina Warren,
and Val Kanavy being those three!! All four horses looked awesome at the
finish, but that 4th horse just had a little extra something at the BC
Judging.

I like the way the BC is judged at this time. I am of the opinion that
weight should count for more, as I have seen first hand the difference
that 100 pounds makes. I had an Arabian stallion, Desert Embers. Tina
Hicks needed a horse to ride, so we made a deal. While she was riding
him, we compared notes to her HRM readings VS the ones that I had.
It was amazing to say the least. I weighed 100 lbs more than her at the
time. Embers was conditioned fairly well by me. I saw readings of 135-145
under normal fast trotting conditions on mild ups and downs. Tina's
readings rarely went over 100!! This is a huge difference in coming to the
VC!!

I have never seen a top ten rider who was denied standing for BC based on
time unless it was that rider who decided against it.
I believe that only top ten should be allowed to stand. It's about BC for
the horse that is competing. I believe that BC should be about the
soundest and fittest horse. This wouldn't include the horse that finished
the ride 4 hours after the first place horse. It is still a race. It has
to take into consideration the fastest as well as the fittest.

Just my opinions, not a bid for flame or arguments!!:-)

APPY TRAILS

SAMM C. BARTEE
Auburn, Al. SE Region
with
SIR REVEL--1305 miles and........!!!
B JETS WAR EAGLE--endurance wannabe

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