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how to improve ridecamp response



I do not know if I am qualified to answer any of these questions - but I have 20 years in this sport, so I will respond to some of these questions.  All responses are my opinions or experience, certainly nothing written in stone....
 
I would LOVE to know your practices and experiences with the following:
 
1:  How do you start young horses with conditioning?
 
Three words:  Long SLOW distance.  At a walk, at a jog....at a walk,at a jog (notice it is not even TROT, but jog.
 
 
2:  What is your conditioning program for 50 mile rides?  100 mile rides?
 
See above, add TROT and some canter.
 
3:  What is your general feeding program?  What do you feed before, during and after hard rides?
 
Sweet feed with fat according to body type, timothy hay while traveling and 24 hour pasture when home.  Fresh water 24/7.  Se/E (this is the North East).  Used to feed corn oil until feeds came out with added fat.  Not much different for rides except electrolytes and carrot or apples for treats and to encourage eating.
 
5:  What strategies do you use for cooling?  How do you cool after hard rides?  Do you ice legs?
      Do you poultice and wrap legs?
 
No, I do not wrap or ice.
 
6:  How do you train with your HRM"s?  At what range do you consider anaerobic with your horses?
     How long to you hold them there?  What ranges to you stay between?
 
Do not use all the time, I honestly feel like a lose a certain amount of 'feel' for my horse with a HRM.  When I do use one, it is mostly to see where my horse is at - how high his heart rate goes with a certain amount of work, how fast it recovers....sorry, I am not very scientific....
 
7:  Saddles, tack etc?
 
Same old double R have ridden for thousands of miles - the one thing I would not be without is my 100% wool pad.  Mine is at least 12 years old (honest!)  It has been to more big rides (3 ODs, 3 ROCs, Big Horn..and more) than most riders. 
 
8.  What do you look for in an endurance prospect? Is size important?
 
I can't ride an ugly horse!!!  Size is important to me personally, I don't think it has to be to everyone. Good feet, straight legs....
 
9:  Do you lay off your horse after the season? 
 
Yes, two to three months
 
10:  What is your preferred plan for day before the ride?. Not to forget anything or have truck trouble!!  Do you ride your horse out on the trails the
     Friday before the ride? I try, but I don't know if it matters most of the time. What if you arrive late and can't get the horse out the day before the ride? I would hand walk him and do some jogging before going to bed.
    How do you warm up the mornng of the ride? Walk and jog, start out slow.
 
11:  How do you deal with tie-up, thumps, dehydration, other metabolic problems?
 
Never had to.......
 
12: Favorite rides, positive changes in the sport?
 
The Big Horn is my all time fav.  Positive changes: tighter vetting, more types of specialized saddles, feeds, etc....to a point.
 
13:  My favorite question:  How did so many of the early riders complete ride after ride without the
HRM, custom electrolytes, improved tack and advanced endurance research?  How did so many of you ride 100 miles in tennis shoes and english stirrups??!!!
 
We were pretty tough back then.  I use to ride an english saddle or a McClellan .  I once got on a strange horse with a strange saddle and rode a hundred miles.  I could still ride a hundred in tennis shoes and english stirrups.....but maybe not jeans!!  I still have scars on the inside of my knees from 20 years ago!
 
Respectfully,  Laura Hayes, NE #2741


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