News from NATRC...

PasoBaby_CarolU · News from NATRC...

IT's about time!

http://actionridertack.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/good-news-from-natrc/

whisperingwindfarms

I have an ignorant question - why don't they allow splint boots? I would want Legacy boots on my horse if I were hard riding in rough terrain.

PasoBaby_CarolU

I only rode one NATRC ride, but their no leg protection rule (my understanding) was two fold. One, you were supposed to condition the horse and ride safely so they don't need protection, and two, it's easier for the vet to check the legs at the vet checks.

In CTR, they don't have a rule against leg protection, which seems strange to me, since they ride at a much easier pace.

Jonnij

This thread came up because I have a Google search for NATRC. I have been riding the sport since the mid 70's, and in 2009, my horse won the organizations highest award, the Presidents Cup.

This coming year is the 50th anniversary of NATRC. It is a nationwide Competitive Trail Riding Organization, with rides held in 6 regions coast to coast.

To give you some background on the hoof boot, and leg protection rule, let me try to explain the background, and part of the judging.

Horses are scored on their condition, soundness, manners, trail ab ility through out the ride. Unlike endurance, that is a race, horses will have point loss for areas that they are...how do I phrase this "less than perfect". We want our horse to go down the trail safety, staying sounds (and sane). If a horse interfears, over reaches, does not watch foot placement well, or causes any other type of nick, wound, hair loss on the legs, including heel bulbs, it would be noted and scored by the vet. A horse that does any of the ab ove would not be considerd as good of a trail mount as one who did not end up with injuries on the legs during the ride. So, having hoof boots that came up above the hairline, like many do with gaiters, keeper straps had been though of as protective devices, just like splint boots would be. And the general thinking has b een that if a horse NEEDS leg protection, they are maybe not well suited for this competitive type of sport. The decision to allow hoof boots that came up above the hairline has been discussed for years, and finally finding the right wording of the rule to allow them, that would still find the best way to score the horses, while allowing riders to have more choices for hoof protection.

Leg protection such as splint boots is either not allowed, or has automatic point deduction in NATRC and other CTR organizations that cover any distance, and are scored based on condition, soundness etc. The feeling is still, if the horse needs such devices to protect their legs, then that horse would not be as suited as one who does not. Our sport is based on as much as an equal playing field as possible. Horses are to all travel the same distance, at the same pace, and classes are divided based on weight of everything the horse carries. NATRC rides travel at a pace of 3.5 to 5mph for Novice division, covering about 40 miles on a 2 day ride, and 4 to 6mph pace and about 50 miles on a two day ride for the Open division. The speed is usually no where near the pace most endurance riders ride, and thus, the speed factor that comes in to play for many endurance riders protecting legs from trail hazards, and way of going is very different. Again, we are scoring horses to find the one that is the most suitable for the sport of distance trail riding on that day, for those conditions, and scoring wounds etc. on the legs is just a small fraction of that sport.

On a personal level, when I do use splint boots on an enduance ride, I find one that is made just to protect, but never one that is used as a support boot like Sports Medician boots. They hold in way too much heat, gather too much dirt, sand and debris, cause rubs, and on a long days ride, may cause more problems that protect the horse. With proper conditining, horses should never need boots designed for support in distance riding.

Hope that cleared up any questions some might have had. Another aspect of NATRC is it is the only CTR sport that also has horsemanship judging. So at a ride, your horse has awrd placings he can win, and YOU can win seperate awards for horsemanship. It is scored on safety, care of the horse, and your trail equitation (do you ride balanced on hills, or like a sack of potatos). We have regional year end awards for Novice, and National awards for the Open division. Great way to see new places to ride. Often on private ranches that you can not ride on otherwise. You can find our current ride schedule here:

http://www.natrc.org/MEMBERS/RideSchedule/RideSchedule.pdf

PasoBaby_CarolU

Thank you Jonni for finding this thread and answering that question.

whisperingwindfarms

Thank you Jonni! That makes sense to me.