Ridecamp: RE: [RC] Protecting Horses

In order to protect the horses every one is going on about
lowering the pulse and respiration rates. Why does no one
ever consider making the trail one where speed is a minor
factor. If RM's insist on using roads and two tracks than
you will have speed. When the riders bitch about having to
go cross country and up and down mountains and the rides are
then on the flat you will have speed and metabolic problems.

It is the trail that controls the speed. If it must be on
relatively level ground then the trail must be twisty and
turny. not a straight-away. If the trail is road or two
track then hills are needed. Mountains are better. Best of
all are cross country trails in the mountains.

Yes, the rides take longer, the riders are more tired but
the horses end the ride in much better shape. We have seen
conclusive proof of this matter.

Bob

Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Rides
2 Far
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 10:57 AM
To: sshaw@xxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: RideCamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [RC] Protecting Horses


> One way to protect the horses from being overridden is to
lower the  P
Rrates,

I have a couple of problems with this. When a ride sets the
P&R at 60
what that means to me is that I spend *more* time keeping my
horse's head
away from the food and frantically sponging.   If not for
the 60 thing,
he would hit 64, get right through the vet check and have
more time to
eat while I can sponge him more if I want to lower his core
temp.  I
think some really athletic horses may drop even though other
issues are
cropping up (like low gut sounds in which case they need
more time
eating).

I was once on a training ride with a really good horse who
tied up.  He
couldn't even drag a rear toe to move forward, but ate
everything he
could reach and had a pulse of 32.

I know everyone keeps mentioning how the Australians do
things lately,
and I'm not an expert on it or anything...but I believe that
if they have
recurring problems (like have a horse treated at two rides
or something)
they are forced to drop down a level of competition.  Since
we don't have
"levels of competition"...perhaps "you get get a horse
treated twice and
you ride for mileage only the rest of the year" or something
like that?

Angie  (never had one treated but does that mean I'm due?)



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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=