Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Pete,

I get a lot of looks (and comments) after riding in on my paso fino.  I 
have not read the other responses, so I hope I am not duplicating too 
much, but here goes.

 I would not worry about competing yet.  Just go out there and have 
fun.  Try to walk up those big hills, so your horse will have something 
for the straights and the downhills.  Gaited horses do have a slight 
advantage in that they can fly down some (low grade) hills where most 
arabs have to walk.  I would try to "gait" a lot on the straight and 
downhill.  That will give you plenty of time (depending on the 
particular ride) to walk up those hills.

If you HAVE to cantor, only do it up real short hills and not more than 
about 5 or 10 minutes  on the flat , especially near the beginning of 
the ride.  And be sure to walk in the last 1/2 mile or so, at the vet 
check AND at the end of the ride.  That will give your horse plenty of 
time to re-coop his pulse rate.

There is a lot of stuff you will learn on the way that can help, but 
just remember to go out there and have fun.

Enjoy,

-Paul L.

On Monday, March 15, 2004, at 05:54  PM, Peter Harper wrote:

> Hello All,
>
> I've been following ridecamp for about a month and
> this is my first post.  I've got a TWH mare and am
> interested in getting into endurance riding.  I wanted
> to know if there are any other TWH or gaited horse
> owners out there who can give me some advice. We're
> entered in our first LD ride in three weeks and would
> appreciate any advice from other gaited riders.
>
> Is there anything unique I should know?  I realize
> most folks ride Arabs and expect to be left in the
> dust.  We're going for style points and plan to
> compare aches and pains at the end of the ride. ;-)
>
> Happy trails,
>
> Pete in Texas
>
> __________________________________
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> Just because someone tells you that your horse isn't "fit" for
> endurance...doesn't mean it isn't, it just means your horse isn't fit 
> to be
> "their" endurance horse! Go for it, you never know what you'll 
> accomplish
> with that "saddle horse" or "trail horse" of YOURS!
> ~ Darlene Anderson - DPD Endurance
>
> ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/
>
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I don't think you have to join a gym or buy frilly outfits to get some
fitness.  A decent set of shoes and a 15 minute dismount here and there
will help. 
~  Jon K. Linderman, Ph.D., FACSM, Assistant Professor of Health and Sport Science, University of Dayton

ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/

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