Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Well Laney,

You obviously didn't grow up in Kentucky. It can be the most wonderful 
weather or can be bottomless mud.

A few tips for mud from a rider that can't train for it - we can train 
for deep sand but not deep mud. First in the really slick stuff - walk. 
If there is a firm base under a think layer of mud you can trot some - 
at a slow controlled trot. When you find good footing- do not mess 
around make up time. I liken mud riding as three different rides. One is 
plain old walking in the curd. The second is very careful trotting and 
walking in the marginal footing and the third is rocking on in the good 
footing.

Of course you need to train  your horse to be able to "rock on."  But 
most important in mud is to be patient and relax - you will find some 
good footing somewhere and when  you do your horse should be well rested 
so he can go. If there is no good footing and you can't finish - there 
is always another day.

Truman

Laney Humphrey wrote:

> I guess the NW finally got its wet - just in the spring, not the 
> winter.  Since you've already be able to do some conditioning, your 
> horses already have a bit of a base on them.  I agree that trying to 
> trot in saturated conditions is not a good idea, especially when the 
> horses are just starting out.  If you cross your heart and promise to 
> go SLOW during the ride, i.e., walk a lot, you should be just fine.  
> And there are worse things than finishing over time but a happy horse 
> that went 30 miles and finished sound.  Horses stay fit and in 
> condition much longer than people do and get into condition easier 
> than we do too so don't judge your horses' physical shape by what you 
> think a human would need to get into condition.  Also, it can't 
> possibily continue to rain all the way til June 25th!
> Take a deep relaxing breath and enjoy your horses - and think of all 
> the green grass this rain is producing!
> Laney


--

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm 
not sure about the former."  Albert Einstein





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