New program and service, so I haven't figured out all the bells and whistles so your message follows (I've been off line for four days, sorry this is late).
I'd agree with most of your stuff, except in the case of a hilly ride. I don't think riding them on the flat gets them ready for hills. Last May my mare had excellent recoveries and had been ridden a lot (mostly flat @ trot and canter). We completed the first ride of the season (it was very hilly), but after the first P&R on the 3rd day (this was NATRC), she pulled a muscle and it was never right the rest of the year, so we finished our season the beginning of July. She'd start sound and finish off in the left rear. Anyway, an "easy" 50 is possible (and I've done it), a "difficult" 50 (like Mt. Diablo) could probably be completed, but perhaps at the expense of the horse.
Sue
>Marisa asked about conditioning for a fifty - I would say that what you
>are doing and plan to do is plenty to complete happy and healthy. Until
>Tony cut his leg I was riding 3 times a week in the ring - pretty
>strenuous dressage work and then doing a 15 mile (approximately) ride on
>the weekend and sometimes another shorter, faster ride on the weekend. I
>was shooting for an end of March 50 and I am confident that he would have
>been ready based on his recoveries.
>
>Is it just me or I am the only one amazed at how *little* it really takes
>for a horse to be able to do 50 miles? I don't mean for you guys that are
>out to win - I know that that takes much more than I was doing. I'm
>talking about for someone beginning with a reasonably fit and healthy horse
>and wanting to complete 50s with some horse left.
>
>Last year I would have never believed that I could get Tony ready for a 50
>due to my limitations on real conditioning during the week (would require
>road riding and there is waaayyyy too much traffic after work to do that
>with *any* degree of safety) - but now I see that even with these
>limitations it can be done - very encouraging, I think.
>
>Tina and crew
>hickst@nichols.com
>Huntsville, AL
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