Ridecamp: Re: [RC] to LD or not

--- I've only done two LDs.  My mare doesn't
> even start to get tired in 25 miles, and I'm wondering
> if she & I would learn more by doing slow 50s vs doing
> more LDs.  She's a mature horse (10).

Hi Nicole!
  I had this same question at the beginning of this year. I
did one LD on Reno (8yr old ex-dressage horse who hated his
job). I had a very fresh horse after the LD and we must
have covered a good 40 miles that day with all the extra
work I gave him to try to get his mind right. For us LD's
weren't helping and infact, was causing more problems if
anything. A good friend and mentor told me to step up to
slow 50's. Best advise I have ever recieved. It took 30
miles for him to realize he was gonna be on the trail
longer than he thought and finally get his brain to engage.
At mile 45 he decided he was tired and poked along, I let
him take lots of breaks and eat some grass. My goal then,
as is now, is just to complete with a happy horse. When a
horse passed us Reno perked up, caught his second wind and
eagerly trotted on in; we came in third from last but I
felt we had really achomplished alot that day. We are still
doing slow 50's but each time he just gets a little better.
Had I elected to do LD's this past year I don't think it
would have been as a successful year training wise and
neither of us would have had much fun fighting with each
other.
 Our goal this year coming up is to do some back to back
50's. Luckily our region offers quite a few of these :) I
am also planning on doing more CTR's at the open pace as I
feel this will help Reno's mind tremendously.
 Being a knowledgable horsewoman you will know
instinctively what is the right distance for you and your
horse. As my mentor said "trust your gut feeling".

Regards,
Penny






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