Teddy is absolutely correct on this. To much speed too soon and the horse
is history. Speed kills! Then how I get off saying this when I go out and
gallop (usually holding her back) the last 25 miles of a ride faster than
most ride an LD? The reason is very simple. She had over 500 miles of
slow 50's before I let her use her speed. Tina's horse had many long slow
miles put on him by Samm. So he is very ready.
One of the issues facing ride managers concerning LD rides is some people
(by far not all): a) don't appreciate (or realize) that base has to come so
the horse can handle speed, b) 25 miles is a long way and a lot can happen,
or c) just want to bloody win at any cost. Yes you see the same problems in
50's, but it has been my experience that the problem is more pervasive in
LD rides. These people tend to put their horses at risk. There are people
in FL who will never have a horse ready for a 50 because they run its legs
off trying to win LD's.
I think the LD program is good, may need some tweaking but in general good
and those that for what ever reason want to only do 25 miles should not be
considered second class citizens.
A 5 k run is different than a 10 k and they are different from a marathon
which is different from a 100 mile super marathon. I would consider a 5 k
more of a long middle distance run than a distance run. In the same way a
25 mile ride is not an "endurance event" to a horse the same that a 50 mile
ride is. And a 50 mile ride is different from a one day 100.
One last thought is it is probably a lot easier on a horse to do an 8 hour
50 than a 2.5 hour 25. So those folks who think their horse is not ready,
go give it a try. As Joe Long pointed out the old boy might just surprise
you.
Truman
Truman Prevatt
Sarasota, FL