Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Hope, I think you are going about his training sensibly. Take your time with him if you want him to last for 30 years. I commend you for waiting til he's four to be backed. Good for you!!!! That will add useful years to his life at the other end. Far too many people are in a big rush to get horses under saddle at 2 years...

 

I'm working with a young Arab mare now who hasn't done her first competitive ride yet. We spend the first year walking, getting balanced, exploring trails a little, a little trotting. The next year we added canter, but still mostly walked and trotted. I got her out to group rides and things where she would be around lots of other horses and activities. We also camped out a few times.

 

This year I'll start her real conditioning riding, and I've also started working on asking for collection and extensions. I like to wait til the horse is well balanced and relaxed under saddle before we add more.

 

Conditioning work is done at long slow distance. Work on the miles, then add speed work. Also work on practicing vet checks with your horse.

 

Hope this helps... and oh yes, I'm sure QHs have finished 100 miles before....good luck and happy riding!

 

chris

Hope Holland <hopeholland2005@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I have a coming four-year-old quarter horse, and I'd like to ride endurance 
> with him in the future. No, he's not an Arab, but he's the horse I have and 
> the horse I want. I'm not looking to win or top ten. Just finish.
>
> My horse is being backed this spring. My preference is to keep to walk and 
> trot on the ground this year, and just walk under saddle. Next year is early 
> enough to trot under saddle. I'm also keeping him on pasture with other 
> horses as much as possible, so he has a chance to self-exercise and play. 
> His basic training is with a John Lyon's trainer, but I'll also be giving 
> him a dressage foundation.
>
> How should I begin and progress with training for his first LDs? I want to 
> put a good foundation on him, and I want him sound and happy for the next 30 
> years!
>
> I definitely want to do 50s with him eventually.
>  Are 100s doable on a 
> quarter horse? I understand that they don't cool as easily as Arabs. My 
> ultimate endurance dream would be the Big Horn 100.
>
> Thanks,
> Hope
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Don?t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! 
> http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/
>
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>
> 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!!
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


"A good horse makes short miles," George Eliot

Chris and Star

BayRab Acres
http://pages.prodigy.net/paus