Humans and equines share a number of
traits when it comes to training, among them 1) long slow distance builds the
soft tissue and bone strength needed for marathons and endurance rides
(foundation work) and 2) interval training works to build speed, strength and
pacing.
You’ve already got a solid
foundation, and frankly, based on your description, you’ve got plenty of
speed base as well. An 8 mph trot for the entire 50 miles will yield a
7-8 hour ride time (with holds). However, it is pretty clear, at least in
my world, that interval training for horses yields tremendous results when done
correctly. The key is in the “doing it correctly” and it
requires the religious use of a heart rate monitor. If you’re not
the really diligent type or don’t use an HRM, interval training will
simply be more miles with a harder effort…not a bad thing, but not
necessarily what you need, and may just be wear and tear on your horse rather
than productive training miles.
There are many different types of
intervals, but they all involve pushing the heartrate up very high for a
specified period, then a specified period of recovery, then a repeat. For
non-flat track race horses, the only way to safely do this is on hills,
preferably not too steep but not too flat, and fairly uniform so that the level
of effort is uniform (and measurable).
Do a search in the archives, there have
been some specific interval training formulas posted by some very qualified
trainers.
Mike
This year I'd like to move from 8.5 - 10 hr ride times to 7 - 8 hr ride
times. My horse will be 7 and starting his third season, we hit our 250
mileage mark last year on 50's. I do not want to RACE or go really fast,
but it would be nice to be done while dinner is still warm for the most
part. =) I ride in the West Region (Reno area) and attend a
lot of technical rides, but most still have winning times in the 5 hour range
or so.
Any advice on how to slowly increase our pace? His average (not
working hard) trot is around 8-9 mph and I know we need to work on using his
"fast walk" more consistently. He has a fast walk but I have a
hard time getting him to use it when he doesn't want to.
~ Crysta & Sinatra (if you can't be fast, you might as well look
good)
