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There are many ways to "Top Ten".  Some riders top ten by default because 
those in front of them  end up getting pulled or having to slow down and 
these riders are at the right place at the right time.  So riding 
conservative sometimes does allow one to Top Ten. Some riders specifically 
train for speed so they can responsibly ride faster in competition.  I think 
adding speedwork to shorter workouts (with adequate recovery between 
conditioning rides) does give the horse an opportunity to adapt to the 
stress of speed without having to deal with the distance factor at the same 
time.

Regardless of which philosophy of training a rider chooses to use, I think 
it is really important never to increase the distance traveled at the same 
time you are increasing speed.  If you increase both of these variables at 
the same time you really up your odds for physical injury or metabolic 
breakdown.

As you can see from the response from both Joe and Angie, a horse is able to 
Top Ten by increasing training speed to racing speed or by just training 
conservatively.  You need to find what works best for your horse.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Long" <jlong@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 11:12 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] Training to 'top ten'


> rides2far@xxxxxxxx wrote:
> > > 'To top ten - you train at top ten speeds'
> >
> > I totally disagree. For my horses to top 10 I trained consistantly but
> > conservatively most of the time, then added high heart rates on hills.
> > I've never ridden with anyone who trained "top 10 speeds" consistantly.
> > If I did it my horses would all be lame before I ever got to a ride. I've 
> > had a win & BC on one horse, and a win/high vet score on another, on
> > both I was very careful to find somewhere with good footing for our speed
> > work and we did do some, but never headed out on a 12 mile trail with
> > tricky footing and let it rip. That's a chance I'd only take on race day.
> >
> > Angie
>
> Sorry, Angie, but I believe "To Top ten, you train at Top Ten speeds" is 
> good advice.  My bedrock principle of training is, never ask your horse to 
> do on a ride what you have not done in training.
>
> Now, training for Top Ten or First Place is only done after the horse has 
> a solid foundation, including a couple of years of endurance rides at 
> mid-pack or slower pace.  But once at that level, I condition at speeds at 
> least as fast, or faster, as the speed at which I expect to compete.  That 
> includes difficult terrain and downhill.
>
> IMO horses are more likely to be lamed by being competed at higher speeds 
> than the speed they trained at, than by proper conditioning.  If you 
> gradually increase your speed over hard or rocky terrain at home, then the 
> horse will be able to handle it on the ride.
>
> There have been times I've been out riding with another endurance rider 
> (training ride) and come to a downhill, and they've said "I'm going to 
> walk down the hill, I'm saving his legs for the rides."  And I've said 
> "I'm sorry, but I need to condition for downhill, so I have to go on" and 
> I've moved on ahead at competition speed.
>
> BTW, I've never had a career-ending lameness (or any career-ending injury) 
> with any horse that I've brought along in endurance.
>
> --
> Joe Long
> jlong@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
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