Working too hard

[DreamWeaver <karen@chaton.gardnerville.nv.us>]

April:  A good way to learn a lot is to volunteer to work as a vet 
secretary at a ride.  Most of the more experienced horses aren't as likely 
to run themselves into the ground, it's the young ones with inexperienced 
riders (or older ones with more experienced riders who are 
pushing).  Usually you learn what is normal and what is not normal in the 
process of conditioning and regularly riding your horse.  Don't ask for 
more than your horse has been conditioned to do on training rides in a 
competition, pay attention to the vitals and other signs and you'll be 
fine.  If you're used to conditioning at a trot for fifteen minutes at a 
time at 7 mph, don't go out there and burn up the trail at 10 mph for an 
hour at a time.  Ride your own ride, don't get caught up in a group or in 
the "competition" of it all.  It's pretty much just common sense.  The key 
is to start out slowly and build up.  And that doesn't mean in one ride, 
but rather over the course of several ride seasons.


Happy Trails,

Karen
in NV
& Weaver, 2,680 miles.....6th year of doin' this stuff
& Rocky, 1,445  :+).....just 4 for me but I'm the baby!!
www.greatbasin.net/~sportssaddle


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