Re: RC: Re: Conditioning Question

[Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>]

Hi Karen
Along those lines, we just took 2 of my pasture potatoes on a camping
trip to Montana De Oro and we did a very leisurely 1 1/2 hr trail ride
in the morning and then an hour ride in the late afternoon--- Mark and
Jessica thought they were going to have to carry their horses home on
the second ride (except their spirits rose when they realized the
direction back to camp). Granted, the morning ride was on the beach so
we had some sand but we walked the whole time. And they all have been in
condition at earlier points in their lives (before we got so busy and
rode less). After 2 days of this routine, I caught one trying to use the
cell phone to call the ASPCA!
I am really grateful for one thing, though. Someone's horse bucked her
and ran off. Hellacious (who is in reasonable shape as he self exercises
in pasture) and I went after her, slowly at first (he ran at Los
Alamitos 3 times and I did not want him to think this was the
Preakness--- hard to hold him back till he calmed down). With extended
trotting alternated with controlled cantering we caught up to her and
put her away in camp. Then the boy was ready to trot back and brag to
the others about what we did (I just wanted to tell Mark we were not at
the bottom of a cliff--- knew he'd be worried). Well, the horse Mark was
on wanted to join the chase too but Mark stayed behind with the others
(looking after the girl bucked and staying with our daughter). His horse
worked himself up to a frenzy being held back. By the time he got back,
KK was all sucked up. I remembered about electrolytes and found someone
who had some. Gave him 2 doses that day and 1 the next morning. He
pulled right out of it. THANK GOD FOR RIDECAMP!!!!
A grateful Bette

Karen Sullivan wrote:
> 
> Hi Colleen-I don't think so-I wouldn't even take him 25 miles the first day!
> Think about yourself-if you had been a couch potato, could you go out and
> walk 10 miles for 5 days?  But..........I am of the opinion you can't take
> an unfit horse out of pasture and do 25 miles without hurting him-I mean
> it's just pure common sense.  Does this horse have any athletic base on him
> at all?  Sounds like not.  Do you know anything about the terrain on this
> trip?  Any climbing?
> 
> In my opinion, you would be stressing the horse-do you want to be out in the
> middle of nowhere and end up with a colic, tie up, or lameness?  This horse
> you just bought-don't you want to get to know this horse and all his
> potential litle problems (how DOES he do in groups?) before asking something
> like this?
> You stand to ruin him physically, as well as mentally....
> 
> I see it all the time at Pt. Reyes-those that bring their horses out of
> pasture and try to ride the 8 miles to the beach, over the ridge.
> So.....only a 16 mile ride, right?  They are just going to
> walk..........horses hit the hill back to camp in the afternoon in the hot
> sun.......vet in in camp that night with horse on I.V. fluids treating
> colics and tie-ups.
> 
> Just my opinion-wouldn't do it to a dog, either.
> 
> Karen
> 
> > Colleen McGraw pfarber-cmcgraw@ic.net
> > Can I take an 8 year old 1/2 Arab gelding who has probably
> > just been standing around most of his life (I just bought
> > him) on a horse camping trip and ride him 25 miles a day
> > for 5 days?  This is recreational riding--not competitive.
> > Is this way too much work for an animal who hasn't had weeks
> > of slow build-up?  It takes us about 6 hours to do the 25
> > miles.
> > Thanks, Colleen
> >
> >
> > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> > Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
> > Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp
> > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> >
> >
> 
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
> Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

-- 
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians, Home of 16.2hh TLA Halynov
(yes, REALLY!)
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com