Banana Bank Champions of Cross
Country Endurance Race
On November 17th, 28
contestants from various parts of Belize took the field
to participate in the 24 mile cross country endurance
race. Banana Bank had 3 entries and we are very
proud of our winning team. Banana Bank entries were
Cesar Xi mounted on
Ralph, a 6 year old quarter horse/mustang
cross, Jose Pinelo mounted on Forrest
Gump.
Endurance racing is a combination
of speed and endurance. At the beginning of the
race the horse's pulse is taken which in the case of
Ralph was 60 heart beats per minute. The pulse
would normally be about 110 beats per minute after
2 1/2 hours of strenuous riding. At the very
end of the race, the pulse rate is taken again. 1 hour
later, the pulse rate is registered for a third time and
all horses who's pulse rate is not 64 or below are
disqualified. Then the remaining horses are given
1st, 2nd and 3rd place depending on their order crossing
the finishing line.
Mention should be made here of the
importance of a skilled rider. If the rider lands
flat on the horse causing a "bounce" it is very
tiring for the horse and will slow him down.
Cesar, one of our, wranglers, rides like a jockey,
bearing the majority of his weight on his own frame,
foreword in the saddle and up in the stirrups. It
requires great strength in the legs and good timing to
keep this up for 24 miles but it translates into a
win.
Jose
Pinelo, riding Forest Gump came in 3rd.
Congratulations to Cesar and
Jose
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