Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

i try and start  all training rides at a walk.  and then, i try to start
endurance rides in the middle of the pack at a walk.  if i feel my horse is
too high strung that morning, i start at the back at a walk, but this makes
for a longer day, as i get started 20 minutes or so late by starting at the
back.

but, the #1 thing that has changed my horse at the start of a ride is ground
work.  we have a set pattern of exercises we do before the ride starts..this
means getting saddled up early.  when ever i fail to start with these
exercises, my horse is high strung and kindof wild, and then i start
swearing and well, all downhill from there.

anyway, my two favorite trainers both empasized starting all
rides...training or competition....with these very same exercises.  and it
works...for me anyway.
ericka
----- Original Message -----
From: <mfarm@xxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 9:32 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] moving up from CT to LD


> Quoting Mary Ann Spencer <maryann.spencer@xxxxxxxxxxx>:
>
> > one rule used to be:
> >
> > When you can do 12 miles in 2 hrs you are ready to do a 25 but not a
> > racing one.
> >
> > When you can do 25 miles in 3 hrs, you are ready to do a 50.
> >
> > You really need to be able to do conditioning riding 3x a week, ie
> > interval training.
> >
> > Use common sense.  Know the signs of stress in the horse and how to
> > count pulse and respirations.  Pulse needs to return quickly.
> >
> > Get a good book so it can be your reference guide.  Good luck.
> >              mas
>
> Those are interesting guide lines.  I am wondering about the terrain
issues.  I
> train on very steep ground, lots of climb, and lots of down hill.  We do
25
> miles in about 4hrs, but I would not want to take the down hill any faster
than
> we do, (4-5 mph walk or 6-8 mph trot depending on the hill).  I guess that
we
> could canter all of the up hill, but seems a little excessive, we trot
most of
> it at 8-10 mph and canter or lope some of it around 12-15 mph.
>
> I have been afraid that I was going to fast, but recoveries have been
great.
> The big problem that I have is when we get to a ride, they are so excited
they
> want to run the whole time, and they do not relax into a moderate pace
early on.
> What are some things that others have done to help teach pacing?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
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Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

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