100 MILER AND WEIGHTS

["Budler,Cindy" <natcon@afrox.boc.com>]

Hi all,

Well this is our second season doing 50 milers and I "think" it is time
too move onto 100 milers<gulp>. I am thinking of doing my first 100
miler in 3 weeks time , but am going through the neurotic phase now and
have some questions.
I have always ridden lightweight on the 50 milers , but in order to ride
the 100 miler and get mileage awards I have to ride standardweight(above
75 kg's) so have to carry about 9 kg's extra. What is the best way
according to the experienced lightweights out there? My horse is used to
carrying the extra weight as my son has been training her on and off and
easily makes the 75 kg limit with the tack, so I am not worried about
that - I am considering putting weights in the saddle, on the saddle, in
weight cloth----- any one have pro's and cons of any or all of these?

Second problem - my mare is the most frustrating horse around!!! I think
she is just too clever for me.. We have done all our 50's(7) at average
speeds of 15 to 17 km's per hour(4h45 to 5h15 time) and she is
definately fit enough too handle them(pulses of 36 to 48 highest) and no
stiffness or metabolic problems at all in 2 years- but the mind and
attitude are a problem!! She is very strong willed and when she decides
she doesn't feel like doing this she just falls asleep on me(not
literally). This weekend we did the first 2 legs slowly as we were baby
sitting some unfitter horses and she really was very uninterested going
out. The 3 rd leg I had to do alone and took my crop along for any
problems with water etc. When we left the venue she was so sluggish I
very hesitantly took the decision to give her a hard smack to see what
happened. She took off and we did the whole 20 kms at 18 km/h with large
sections of slow trot for rocks etc- so speed was alot higher than
average at times.  Is this horse bored? I am hesitant to go faster over
50 miles - legs etc - so maybe the 100 miler is an option to wake her up
and get some enthusiasm going? What would you do?

Regards,
Cindy Budler
  Natcon
  Fabrication Division
  Afrox
  Germiston
  Gauteng
  South Africa
  Tel: Direct Line :(011) 871-1006
         Cellphone : 082 464 1809	
  Fax:(011) 873-4623
  E-Mail : natcon@afrox.boc.com


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