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Re: [RC] national championship ride, treatment, conditions, etc. - Kristen A Fisher

I am probably preaching to the choir, but what people say about using HRMs is true. The data can surprise you. I have not been distance riding that long, but when I started using my HRM I noticed immediately that in soft/muddy footing, HR is 20++ higher than on firm footing. Sure surprised me. I knew it was harder for them but this really quantified it.
 
A few weeks later, we were riding in about 85 degree weather at about 12 mph trot. She was working at 200 bpm [I slowed down when I saw that]. The next day was the same temperature, but much less humid. At 12 mph her HR was 175 bpm. At Llano Estacado, trotting 5-6 mph up hills was bringing her to 180-190 bpm [we rested on ridges to get her back to aerobic zone]. Use of the HRM has really opened my eyes to the variances in footing, terrain, and weather that can take a toll on the horse. And it is another tool to help me take care of her.
 
Kristen & Rosie in TX
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 2:27 PM
Subject: [RC] national championship ride, treatment, conditions, etc.

it sounds like the heat and conditions at this ride were more than some bargained for. it was really hot and humid back in may for the liberty run, which is the last ride i did.   i started two days, and didnt finish either day.   STFFC,(speed too fast for conditions)  thats what it was!   drop the temperature 20 degrees and things would have probably been fine.   reduce my ground speed and things would have probably been fine.  let me ride on flat terrain with firm footing, things would have probably been fine. now, which of these options do i have control over?  pretty easy isnt it?    it is still the rider's responsibility to take all factors into account and ride accordingly. sometimes it is not quite as easy to recognize certain things when you are sitting in the saddle. your horse may feel good to you, and look good too, but that higher temperature can just sneak up on you, and you may realize a bit too late that the same horse that was fine at a 8 1/2 mph trot a month earlier, under completely different conditions, probably needed to cut back to 5 mph for today's ride.

Replies
[RC] national championship ride, treatment, conditions, etc., Ed Kilpatrick