Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Here is an article I wrote on going crewless for the PS 100 mile clinic that might be helpful.  It was written for 100s but would be just as applicable for any distance.  I had submitted for the educational column for EN but they never used it so I might as well make available here.

 

RIDING SMARTER, NOT FASTER

^{Using Vet Check Strategy to Improve Your Finishing Time, Even if You Don’t Have Crew}

^{by Kim Fuess}

     ^{Wouldn’t it be nice to improve your finishing time without riding your horse faster?  Being efficient and using your time wisely in a vet check can shave between 5-10 minutes off your overall time for each vet check.  In a 100 mile ride with six vet checks you could possibly finish an hour earlier without riding your horse even 1 MPH faster.  Being efficient in vet checks is especially important at rides that impose strict cut off times like the Tevis Cup.  Even if you are not worried about cut off times wouldn’t you love to be able to cross the finish line an hour earlier when riding a 100 mile ride?  Here are some tips to help save time in vet checks.}

 

^{v      Cool down when coming into a vet check – Most horses recover faster with a gradual cool down  when coming into a vet check.  The majority of horses will take longer to recover if they come in at a working trot or faster and then are asked to recover by coming to an abrupt stop.  The time you think you are saving by not slowing down will probably be wasted as you wait for your horse to meet criteria.  If you don’t believe that there is a difference try this on yourself.  Run a lap around a track at a good clip and then come to an abrupt halt.  Note how you are feeling and how hard you are breathing.  Then try running the same lap but start a gradual slow down a few yards from the finish line.  See if there is noticeable difference in how you feel.  Now put your horse in the same situation at a vet check.  Chances are he will recover faster with the cool down and the gradual cool down  will also lessen chances of him stiffening up.}

^{v      Know the optimum distance your horse needs to cool down – Don’t walk a quarter mile in to a vet check if you only need 100 yards for your horse to cool down.  Each horse is different so use 50 mile rides and your long training rides to learn what the optimum cool down distance is for your horse.}