<% appTitle="Ridecamp Archives" %> Ridecamp: [RC] Rest Periods for Horses
Ridecamp@Endurance.Net

[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]
Current to Wed Jul 23 17:30:22 GMT 2003
  • Next by Date: Re: [RC] Big Horn 100
  • - DVeritas
  • Prev by Date: [RC] shoes
  • - LOUISE D BURTON

    [RC] Rest Periods for Horses - Ridecamp Guest


    Lucie Hess Appalucie@xxxxxxx
    I'm directing this post to the Vets on the list, and hopefully Susan Garlinghouse if she can tear herself away from her Studies.
    
    I ride NATRC and AERC. In NATRC there is currently a trend away from having a stop for rest (45 min. to 1 hr. lunch) during the rides.  There are 2 P&R stops during the ride that are always held, but this is not a stop where the riders can care for their horse by providing feed and water.  The stops are different than our AERC vet checks and only last for 15 minutes or so.  The main purpose of the stop is to check the horses' Pulse and Respiration.
    
    That being said; we may have horses traveling anywhere from 17 to 25 miles without receiving grain, hay, electrolytes or a bucket of water.  Water is available on the trail, but we all know many horses that will not drink well "in the heat of competition".
    
    It can safely be stated that the horses will travel  at an  average speed of no less than 3 miles per hour and probably no more than 5.5 mph.  Remember this is an average!
    
    So with this information at hand.. I guess I'm asking is this a good practice for our NATRC horses?  I don't want any NATRC Flames.. I'm not comparing AERC and NATRC for who is  good or who is bad, I just want to know if this is a sound practice, nutritionally and metabolicly.  I apreciate any type of research  or educational materials that I can reference either way.
    
    Personally, I don't think this is conducive to the horse's health, but I will stand corrected.
    
    Lucie Hess AERC#65
    
    
    =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
     Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
     Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
    =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-