Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] re: new online features & rating at the start

ladurgin@xxxxxxx writes:
>So what was a normal conditoning schedule , mile, time speed for you to 
>knkow he was ready? and your lmaintenance to keep him up for 50's?Laurie
>, 
>R's mom
>
Hi, again.  Well, you'll get many different answers, so all I can tell you
is my philosophy.  Our weather here in Wyoming is pretty unstable in the
spring and that affects my conditioning quite a bit.  There have been
years when I've taken a horse to their first ride of the season with very
little true conditioning due to snow, etc., so just took the full 12 hours
and went for a long trail ride!  But, if all is well, my schedule is to
take one dressage lesson and one ride of about 8-12 miles during the week.
(I work full time)  Then, one 18-25 mile ride on the weekends and that's
it.  I try to start doing this at least 6 weeks before my first ride. 
With a younger horse I just trot as much as they can handle.  With my
horses I'm bringing back, I mix up trotting and cantering.  I do a lot of
hill climbs in these miles and mix up walking/trotting them.  Even my
eight mile loop has two really steep climbs.  Once I start doing rides, I
only ride enough to keep them limber.  I continue my dressage lessons
about every other week during the rest of the year if I can afford it and
may take a trail ride once a week.  Last season I took a beginning jumping
class during the ride season.  My mare did 3-50s and 3-100s on this
schedule.  She was in her jumping class the Tuesday after the Big Horn 100
(3 days later) with no problems.  I can run middle of the pack with this
work.  

However, if you want to run up front, consistently, I can tell you that
people like Kathy Arnold ride their endurance horse every other day, rain,
snow or shine, almost year round.  Kathy usually rides 8-12 miles and at a
fast clip.

Hope some of this is helpful.  Good luck to you.  Cindy


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