Why don't riders like to be judged? -- Let's get the facts straight

[Dbeverly4@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/24/99 11:06:55 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
rides2far@juno.com writes:

<< I have worked as a pulse taker at a NATRC ride.  You're not going to
 learn much from pulses when there's a 2 mile marker out there where they
 hang around until they have exactly enough time to walk slowly the last
 two miles in.  What you get is pretty much, "some horses are 44 and some
 48".  That sort of difference can tell you more about which horses are
 scared of the horse next to it in line  than condition.  
  >>

Angie, Angie, how many of these rides have you been to?  And, clearly, things 
are waaaaay different in your neck of the woods if the answer is more than 
one.  There is this thing called 'forward motion' and normally before a P&R 
you are required to move forward for a specified distance at a specified gate 
usually a trot, (depending on terrain) a couple of miles or so.  Then the 
horses get to the vet check and are graded on pulse recovery.  Respiration is 
checked, but the criteria is pretty high, so not usually a problem.  The two 
mile marker is just used by most experienced riders to judge your timing back 
to camp.  If you've paced yourself well, you don't usually have to "hang 
around".  The final vet check back at camp is after you've cleaned your horse 
up and taken care of him, so that particular P&R doesn't usually show 
anything anyway.  At that check and ALL of the other vet checks normally 
hydration, mucus membrane, gut sounds, soundness and all the usual stuff are 
DEFINITELY checked.  On Saturday's portion of the ride those things are 
checked at least 4 times during the day, and on Sunday 3 times.  Most of 
those checks happen out on the trail.  The criteria the horses have to meet 
is actually tougher than at an endurance ride -- if your horse is at 64, you 
are  going to be held until he comes down.  In order to not lose points the 
horse has to be at 48 or below (granted, this is with a 10 minute recovery 
period) I've had CRI done at NATRC rides also.  Sounds like you rode drag 
behind the Novice division -- and you're absolutely right, some of the novice 
riders don't know how to check hydration -- that's why they are there and 
learning.  The protest situation you are talking about happened at last 
year's IAHA National Championship ride and I don't know the specifics, but it 
was not related to an NATRC ride in any way, shape, or form.  Just thought 
I'd clear up the facts here.  

Sylvia 


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