Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Hey,  I am also an advocate of a big walk,  anything I start or help with 
training will learn to walk 4.5-5 miles an hour.  My main two competition 
geldings:


Walk
Sonny 4.5 mph
Comet 5-5.5 mph(he came with a big walk and can walk even faster now!)

Trot
Sonny  jog 7mph, medium working 9-10mph, huge trot 14-15mph
Comet about the same numbers give or take

Canter
Sonny 12-16mph depending on what gear we are in,  not including the flat 
out haul ass gear because I haven't used that at a ride

Comet once again, about the same


I try not to do the wide open trot too often, I feel it puts too much 
strain on their legs,  I really trot and canter about half and half on a 
ride,  we easily do 10mph average.  I really, really, really believe in 
"ride like you train, and train a wee bit harder than you ride".  I have 
never asked my horses to run harder at a ride than they have done many 
times at home.  I don't feel it is fair to only go that fast on endurance 
rides,  you should train that way if you want to ride that way,  with tons 
of LSD before you start stepping up the intensity.  That said, I have also 
had ten mile discussions of rating at the beginning of a ride when they 
think they are super man and want to run a 3 hour fifty,  I always win 
those discussions!!!!  Hope that helps,  Lynn Kenelly  AERC22506


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Riding alone is when you teach a horse all the "tools" and "cues" he needs
to handle the trail, to hold a speed, deal with hills, etc. It's also where
you develop the "bond" that causes him to "defer" to you before losing his
cool.
~ Jim Holland

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