I ride both endurance and competitive with the same
mare. I condition the same, sprints, miles, run hills, whatever. In
the competitive game, Maggie recovers to 44 - 36 in 10 min and low respiration
no problem. In endurance, I pace just as fast ( 8 - 10 mph), walk into the
vet check about a quarter of a mile, and in 2 min or less reach the required
pulse of 64 or 60, whatever it is for the day. I also did competitive and
endurance with each of my other horses, geldings and mares with the same
result. I have won, I have lost, I have completed, I have pulled. I
just played the game for whatever I was riding that day. I always felt
that competitive was nothing but a slower paced endurance but in order to do
well in either competive or endurance and do mulitple days, one has to condition
the horse.
In Michigan the competitive pace is just about 7
mph. I get great delight in doing the first loop at an endurance pace
driving all the other comp riders nuts (why don't you do endurance, Jeanie?) and
then at the vet check get that nice low pulse and barely breathing
respiration. I also get great delight on an LD or 50s when I did them, on
walking a little bit or doing a slow trot into the vet check and calling for my
horse's pulse in 2 minutes or less and passing the front runners. Whatever
one does, the conditioning has to be done, then just play the game. Jeanie
with an evil grin
