I would think the invention of easy ride stirrups
would be a welcome thing to an old timer. Also sheepskin covers really spoil
your bottom.
--------Karla Watson/Very Wet Oregon
>
I've been seeing a lot lately about overhydration and the use of elytes
> and IV's etc., > and at first I was very concerned and
thought about how I've been using > elytes. It made me think back
to 1979 (yes, I'm that old), my first > endurance ride. I was in
my late teens, I was riding a 21 year > old Standardbred that I had
been doing 3 day eventing on for years and > decided to give endurance
a try. We didn't have heart monitors (or at > least the group I
was with didn't have access to them), we didn't use > electrolytes
(except in our feed at the end of the ride), beet pulp was > for
cows, we didn't load any carbs, we didn't have easy boots....... >
we just rode our horses, watched them closely, carried our stethoscopes
> and a watch with a second hand (no digital watches yet), knew
how to > check our horses hydration the old fashioned way, fed hay at
every stop, > let them drink as much as THEY wanted, and let them rest
if they needed > it........and that was the way it was. I am just
now getting back into > it, and learning about all this new technology
and using elytes and > special feeds... it kind of scares me. I
know knowledge is a good thing > and the horses now can go much
farther and are in better condition, > but I do long for the good
old days. I've decided to use parts of the > new stuff and keep
some of the old stuff until I feel more comfortable > with it
all. (I'm getting some Epic boots, but I will not use elytes >
during a ride, however I will use beet pulp, but not a HRM...I'm staying
> with my trusty old stethoscope and watch, and I'm going to try to
have > fun and enjoy my horse.) Don't get me wrong, I read
everything and want > to be up on the latest science has to offer, but
until I truly > understand it, I feel I can do more harm than good ,
and I would never > do that to my horse. There's an old
saying.....A little knowledge is >
dangerous.....
