 |
RE: [RC] [RC] LDs "bad" for horses - heidiIn a message dated 7/27/2005 7:42:51 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: The issue is not the distance it is the pacing. ...and, how it relates to the horses conditioning. As the level of conditioning increases, the pace (should) be able to be increased. If the horse exhibits some bio-mechanical or perturbation in metabolic efficiency as the pace increases, the "program" or horse need to be looked at more closely. Truman continues by saying: "There is nothing wrong with the 25 mile distance. It is the way it is used." Another valid and profound statement. Frank It may be profound, but it is not complete. As you say, Frank, it relates to conditioning. But it also relates to natural talent. It takes three years to completely "make" a horse, and it does work better if you spend part of that time "competing." So you take the horse on a 25-miler, and you ride the pace you ought to ride because he isn't really fit yet. But what happens? This pace is so boring to him at this distance, if he is really talented, that pretty soon he is bored with the whole idea. He may be well-trained, so he behaves himself, but basically, he just gets sour about the whole thing. You've got two choices, for his sake--either speed up or increase the mileage. I personally don't think that "speed up" is the right answer. I'd rather see that less-than-fit-to-his-potential horse go on to 50s. And in some cases, he needs to start with 50s. So, for that sort of horse, if one is to take Truman's statement literally, it would mean that one simply would not use it at all. Additionally, it IS a valid point that horses who continally do LDs don't learn to take care of themselves. They don't have to! Going farther is an important part of their education. It takes a lot less time for a horse to learn if he starts right out on 50s, so that the next ride he says, "DANG! I might get thirsty out here! I'd better drink while I've got the chance!" For many horses, this is learned far faster and far more thoroughly if they don't already have the 25-mile notion ingrained. So sure, there is nothing "wrong" with the distance--but before we say that it is just how it is used, I think people need to understand the implications of using 25s for green horses, and need to understand their own horses so that they can make wise choices. Again, 25s are primarily for people--and thank goodness they are there so that we can ride them when we need them!--but I still maintain that most horses are better off started on 50s. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|