Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] Then what IS essential for a newbie?

----- Original Message ----- From: Deanna German
<finishis2win@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Yes, I agree an HRM can be a great tool and
you cite one way it can be used> by a person who can recognize nuances. But
I'll say again what I've said> many times before: oldbies lose their
perspective. Give yourself credit,> Becky. I bet you got started without an
HRM and you learned to pay attention> to your horse, right? Then you got an
HRM and it was great information on > top of all that you already knew. You
sound like you're pretty receptive to> the info that the horse provides.>

I've had horses and ridden for over 30 years, and did my first endurance
ride in the fall of 1986, so yes, I've been around a while, but not as long
as many. I do work with new riders occasionally, and I'm sure my perspective
is skewed a little, but I hope not too much.  I do recommend HRMs, but try
to stress they are only one of the many things that can be used to help
evaluate a horse.

I finally got my HRM on my third horse, after his second ride.  We had done
fine on a 25 and this was a 30.  Toward the end of 25 miles he was acting
exhausted, I mean really exhausted, almost staggering.  I couldn't find
anything wrong with him, but he was obviously in great distress.  In Tears,
I nursed him (in-hand) back to the vet check and thru my sobs begged the vet
to please save my horse.  Horse was fine, and checked in all criteria better
then his pre-ride check.  We galloped the entire last loop, five miles if I
remember, caught up to the first rider and raced him across the finish.  My
colt did take a few minutes to reach criteria after a run like that, but it
was well below the limit of what he could have done that day.  I bought my
HRM the next week so I could keep a closer watch on him.  But he was NOT a
horse that could be conditioned using the HRM as a tach as he naturally had
a low HR and good recoveries, I worked him on a scheduled designed to
condition bone - which was a change for me since my previous horses lacked
his aerobic strength and I had conditioned them using a schedule based on
their HR recoveries.

Years later, I brought my old horse out of retirement for a few rides and
almost gave myself a heartattack by trying to use the monitor on him for the
first time at an event.  He loped along the trail 60 beats per minute higher
then the other horse.  I thought something must be wrong with the monitor,
but later figured out it was the difference between the horses.

so my point is,.. yes, I'm basically an intuitive rider, and my main goal is
to be tuned-in with my horse, but I have learned many hard lessons, one of
which is that I don't know nearly as much as I need to about my horses, and
another is that the minute I become over-confident a karmic brick flies into
the back of my head to remind me I don't know nearly as much as I need to
about my horses.

and since HRM technology is available, thankyouverymuch, I'll continue to
take advantage.

Comment on Laura's post: beautifully written and I totally agree except to
say that the horse can lie too.  You can't *rely* on the numbers, but you
can use them to help verify other possibly conflicting or unclear
information.

Becky Huffman, Cleburne, Texas
www.TheOriginalSeries.com
www.BlueArabianHorseCatalog.org

"Good and Ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing
among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men. "
-Aragorn, son of Arathorn


> Doing without an HRM means being conservative, but a newbie should riding
> conservatively, right? By definition, a newbie is bringing along a horse
new
> to the discipline unless they buy a "made" horse. A newbie just doesn't
have
> the bank of knowledge an experienced person does, not to mention the
> collection of really useful STUFF that a person in the sport has purchased
> over the years.
>
> If resources are unlimited and the tack, feed, supplements, assorted gear
> (blankets and boots and such) and transport issues are taken care of, yeah
> sure, buy that HRM. However, I've seen most newbies make an HRM their
FIRST
> purchase before investing in any of the other stuff and I'd just like to
> save them a buck or two (temporarily). Sorry Steve!
>
> I see some folks (oldbies included!) get so wrapped up with what their HRM
> readout says that they don't pay attention to the living, breathing animal
> they share the ride with. The newbie distance rider needs to learn to tell
> without an HRM (and without a vet) when the horse "ain't doin' right."
>
> I think the answer to Sarah's question to what IS essential is, find
mentors
> who have horses that show up season after season and go mile after mile
and
> who have minimal numbers of pulls. Find those people and watch what they
do
> and pepper them with questions.
>
> JM newbie O.
>
> Deanna
>
>
> -------------------------------
> Becky says:
> a heart rate monitor is a great *tool* to be used in conditioning your
> horse, and a great backup *tool* to verify your assessment of your horses
> fitness to continue.  You cannot base your entire conditioning program or
a
> single event on the numbers, but I consider mine a valuable part of the
> whole evaluation system.
>
> ...is he moving strong and sound?
> ...is he eating, drinking and well fueled and hydrated?
> ...is his attitude forward and 'want to go'?
> ...is his heart rate in a normal range?
>
> Many times a slightly higher then normal heart rate can que you in to
other
> pending or potential problems before they become apparent on their own.
> Especially on a new or young horse, as you are getting to know each other,
> or extending the miles or increasing speed.  It definitely isn't a 'must
> have', but it is indeed a 'mostly helpful' **tool** when it is used
> properly.
>
> Becky Huffman, Cleburne, Texas
> www.TheOriginalSeries.com
> www.BlueArabianHorseCatalog.org
>
> "Good and Ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing
> among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men. "
> -Aragorn, son of Arathorn
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Sarah W <crxtreem@xxxxxxxxx>
> > I appreciate the feedback on HRM from both Liz and
> > Deanna.  I, myself, am new to the world of cometitive
> > distance riding and am looking for as much info as
> > possible.  Not knowing any better, I was under the
> > assumption that a HRM was a "must have" for me
>





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