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Re: [RC] Readiness for LD versus 50 Miles- Need Advice - Joe LongOn Wed, 10 Aug 2005 13:16:18 GMT, Ridecamp Guest <guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Please Reply to: Jennifer Johnston jennifer.johnston@xxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== Hello All- I have put this question for to a local enduance vet and have not yet received a response, so...was wondering if I could ask the group for some help with a 'readiness' question. I have asked and read a great deal about readiness for endurance (50 Milers), but have NO experience with Limited Distance and the relative stress it puts on a younger horse. My riding partner would very much like to join me for her first ride this Saturday. We would be doing 30 MILES. She has a 5-year-old Arab gelding who was started on the trail only this year. He was ridden all winter in dressage (4-5 x week). He began 'conditioning' (2-3 hours with hills, lots of trotting) only mid-June. He is ideal weight and appears well-bred for endurance (good hoofs, cannons, not at all stocky). He's somewhat nervous, but not excessively- seems to calm quickly and trusts his rider. He's drinking, eating, peeing well on trail. So...with this history, what is the vote on readiness for a SLOW (no trotting downhill, lots of walking) LD ride this weekend? Any/all input would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to respond directly. Thanks very much. One "rule of thumb" for training is that you need to have some training rides at 1/2 the distance you plan to compete (for finishing, not racing). It sounds like you've been doing more than that, and the horse sounds like he's taken to the trail well. Go for it! Don't overdo the walking, though. Too much walking can wear out both horse and rider. It may sound counterintuitive, but I believe it is true -- the trot is just so much more efficient in terms of energy use PER MILE than a walk. Have you been trotting downhill on your training rides? Then don't hesitate to do the same on the LD ride. As long as a horse has downhill trotting in his training at home, it won't hurt him on the ride, and they are the "easiest" miles of all in terms of energy use. I'm talking about a collected trot down modest hills, not "Man from Snowy River" bombing down cliffs! BTW, most horses do not have a built-in odometer that tells them "Hey, this is as far as I've ever gone before, it's time to stop now." In my experience as long as they are not hurting or overly tired they are quite happy to just keep bopping along, especially if they have buddies riding with them. -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxx http://www.rnbw.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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