Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

When a human runner goes into the weight room (and human runners do lift 
weights), it for a very particular reason. In fact they might go in the 
weight room three times a week for three different reasons. When a human 
runner does short intervals - it is for one reason. When a human runner 
does long intervals it's for a different reason. There are different 
types of training that are used for different reasons. A well rounded 
runner nees all of them. IMO so does a well rounded endurance horse.

Back when I was running - we didn't have the benefit of onboard 
telemetry systems to monitor our status in real time. That would have 
been very benefical and easier (and more accurate ) than the way it was 
done.

HRM's are very useful to support intensity training - that is used to 
build either speed, long term endurance or short term endurance. Can you 
develop a keen enough sense to judge the adaquacy of your horse's 
workout without one - most people can but I doubt if it would be be as 
effective as with one. It all depends what your goals are. If it's a 50 
at 6 to 8 mph, that's one thing - if it is to win the WEC that's another 
kettle of fish where percision in both training and racing are required.

When I use one for training, I set the alarms to a zone I want to use. 
The low alarm is set for the recovery I want to use that day. The upper 
alarm is set for the threshold pulse I want to exceed. The watch I have 
keeps track ot time above - time between and time below. Given this and 
the total time of the workout, I can very eaisly provide the desired 
workout and monitor recovery without having to be watching the watch face.

However, with the Jbird I don't use it all that often since I've been 
riding him for almost 10 years and we have few secrets. However, with a 
new horse I would use it most of the time for several years to get a 
good understanding of how he runs. For an horse I was trying to ramp up 
from a 50 to a 100, I would also depend on training with the HRM to 
monitor how we are doing in preparing for a first 100.

Truman



Mike Sofen wrote:

> Intensity training IS quite different than other training protocols.  I am
> an advocate for being careful here, since, as you say, the horse can't tell
> us directly how they're doing.
>
> Mike
>
>  


--

“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an 
optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” Harry S. 
Truman



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