Re: [RC] physiology & conditioning - Jennifer Layman
Other factors are really important too, and I agree with Laura speed is one of those. Another being how the horses housed... pasture or small paddock? Does the horse get crazy with excessive time off. I find some horses do more damage to themselves when left to their own devices. Light easy work is easier on the body then running, bucking, spinning, etc. I now have pasture and have no problem giving the horses a couple weeks off. They are constantly moving themselves. When I had to board in a small paddock, I made a point of keeping them moving lightly during their "time off".
The two suspensory injuries I had where when horses were in a smaller paddock and during or after excessive recovery time. It's a fine line and all horses are different.
Jennifer
Becky Rohwer <rj7647@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I always heard that it was 1 day off for every 10 miles ridden. A week off for riding only miles seems excessive.
But if that is the case, what do people do who ride multidays. I think the down time depends on the rider (I sometimes don't want to get on my horse for a week after a ride). Depends on the condition of the horse. Depends on if the horse finished the ride with any problems or not. ie - lameness, dehydration, colic, etc..... May even depend on the over all attitude of the horse. After a ride when I turn my mare out to pasture I pay attention to how she leaves the corral. First few days she may just walk out, then may pick up to a trot, then will fly out at a gallop. I figure when I see that she is rested and ready to go again. Just like everything else involving horses. Depends on..............many things.
Becky R. - Montana
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