ridecamp@endurance.net: Over train / under train

Over train / under train

Sue Cunningham (mdpyssc@fs2-scg-man.ac.uk)
Wed, 12 Jul 95 13:12:07 -700

There was a discussion a while ago about how much training people did (possibly
on Equine-l) but I never saved any of it. So what recommendations have people got
for bringing a young (4yr) old horse on. He's been backed about a year, though
for much of the time until the last few months he was only ridden about once a
week. He is now being ridden about 4 days a week, 2 half hour schooling sessions,
a 7 mile or so hack done mostly in trot, and a longer (10-15 mile) slower hack
at weekends, sometimes this is just walking in the hills. He's done a 15 miles
pleasure ride (5mph) with no problems, and we are thinking of taking him on a
25 mile pleasure ride, also to be done at about 5mph in three weeks. Do you think
this is OK? Also, at home on flat ground he drags his toes,
but once the going is strange and/or uneven, he doesn't seem to have a problem -
just natural laziness/boredom?

Any general recommendations for training as he gets older. Next year will be his
novice competitive year, when (hopefully) we will do 10 25 mile rides at 6-7mph
from Feb-Oct. I seem to remember some people advocating riding only twice a week
or so? Has there been any research on this?

I do a lot of riding bareback, is this likely to do him any harm? It doesn't seem
to, his back certainly isn't sore, and I can happily ride at any pace (including
the Oh My God There's Monster Behind Us pace), so I don't think I bouncing around
to much, but some people seem convinced it will damage a horse's back.

Sorry for all the questions, I'll shut up now :-)

Sue
sue.cunningham@mcc.ac.uk