 |
Re: [RC] re: Truman's comments on 100s - Cindy CollinsTruman: My thoughts are that more and more 100s are fast loops these days...especially with the ridiculous pressures from FEI/international requirements for speed. You say metabolic problems have increased on 100s. I say perhaps the "dumbing down" of 100 mile trails and the need to ride at speed to compete internationally, contribute to this problem. Perhaps I'm totally off base, but my gut tells me that these fast, relatively flat 100s more closely resemble 50s, than people/horses who are going "to finish" the BH or Tevis. I once had a great 50 mile horse, a speed horse(easily could do sub 4 hour 50s), who only did one 100 miler and I loved him with all my heart. He's buried here in my backyard. He was a family member. However, I didn't consider him a great endurance horse because he was not a 100 mile horse, and to me that's endurance riding. This is philosophical to me. Yes, 100s aren't a piece of cake and take preparation. However, I also know people who took horses out of the pasture (when their "endurance" horse went lame the week before the ride) and finished the BH 100 on them. They rode very slowly, always on the edge of the time cut off. Am I recommending this...no. I only mention it to say that lots of horses "can" do a 100 with good horsemanship and care. Because it may help the people out there following our discussion, Truman, how do you know your gelding can't do 100s. You've never entered him in one. This could be enlightening to some people struggling with the concepts. My gelding who was so fast didn't have the legs to do 100s. Metabolics were never an issue. He had the desire, too. He blew both tendons early in his career, but after a year long lay off, came back and was able to do very well in 50s and did finish one 100 miler (a very respectable 3rd place at the Twenty Mule Team). However, he could not hold up to regular 100s and I didn't want to break him down. His brain never understood the limits of his body. Well, enough of a trip down memory lane, Truman. Didn't mean for this to ramble so much. Cindy =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|