ridecamp@endurance.net: more BC and total time opinion

more BC and total time opinion

Teresa Van Hove (vanhove@unavco.ucar.edu)
Wed, 10 Sep 1997 10:38:05 +0700

First, let me say - hurray for this forum - I think its great to see
all these varying opinions. Ken Cook, Bob Morris, Randy Eiland and others
have made some very good arguments for leaving the BC alone. I think that
the system does not really need to be changed but it would be helpful to
have the vet scoring criteria a published part of the rules - it would help
de-mystify things and would allow riders to know more easily if a vet was
scoring horses in a manner inconsistent with the AERC norm. If AERC can
spell out that magnetic, laser, osseous manipulitave manipulations, are
going to be considered like drug therapy and disallowed I think they could
spell out that a horse will lose n.n points for pulse over 12 (or whaterver)
for CRI, will lose 10 points for lameness at the just allowable for completion
level and scale to 0 for perfectly normal gait (my opinion of fair point scale),
etc, etc.

Which leads me to the above rules - I don't like this trend - smacks of
moving towards NATRC and I sure don't want it made illegal to help the horse
with pads, splint boots, etc, or by getting off and tailing for hills etc.
I like the fact that AERC riders are free to try to give their horses the
advantage by keeping rider+tack weight down, putting up panels for the
horse for overnight, getting off for hills if the rider is fit enough,
choosing to use hoof pads, easy boots, or equithotics etc, etc. I realize
that the intentions are good (protecting horses from overzealous riders
who would try to mask a problem to get that completion) but what is next -
no liniments or icing?

On mandary completion times Kat Swigart and Joe Long present good
arguments for the opposite view points. I do think that AERC could
allow ride management to allow an extra hour of hold time (per 50 miles)
for extreme conditions (heat+humidity over 160? or elevation changes
more than 2000 meters?) without compromising the integrity of the sport.
I don't have a problem with leaving the current times alone either - but
I think that ride managers have a responsibility to inform potential
riders when the ride conditions are tough - so they can make an informed
decision as to whether their horse is ready for the challenge, or they
better wait for an easier ride.

Teresa

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