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[RC] Horses staying in shape and knees - Jonni JewellCatfish, IMO, your horse will be fine. If you can get someone to just get the horse out to stretch its legs some, either pony it, or easy, non-stress rides, it will hold it's fitness fine for Tevis. You are lucky, that you live where your conditioning and rides include plenty of hill work, so the horse has been conditioned for such work. One of the biggest problems with those heading to Tevis for the first time, is over conditioning and too much pounding before the ride, and by the time the ride comes around, it does not take much during the actual ride for the horse to go "off". (if it does not happen before the ride) The above is just my opinion, after watching a friend prep horses for years for Tevis, and complete year after year. She is NOT one who races, but rides very conservatively, finishing within the last 1 - 1.5 hours of the ride. But, taking a horse with the minimal condition needed for the ride, also takes a rider who can REALLY rate the horse, and pace well. Others may have other opinions. Sorry to hear about your knee. That sucks...hope the doctor gives you a go to be able to give Tevis a shot. Frustrating to put the work, thoughts and mindset into it, to have something like this potentially side line you for a year. Jonni ============================================================ It is how we "feel" deep inside that matters, cause each of us knows the truth, regardless of how we try make it complicated. It just isn't. ~ Frank Solano ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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