Re: Re: exhausted horses (re: Dance Line)

["Maggie Mieske" <mmieske@netonecom.net>]

<Sometimes you will be
pleasantly surprised at where you end up placing. >

This is so true...I didn't place on my first 15 mile novice ride but our
friend with the big clunky quarter horse did.  However, in subsequent CTR
and a couple LD, I did place without ever dreaming I would or could....

Maggie Mieske
Mieske's Silver Lining
10601 S. Richards Rd.
McBain, Michigan 49657
http://www.netonecom.net/~mmieske
mmieske@netonecom.net

----------
> From: superpat <superpat@gateway.net>
> To: Michelle Rowe <michrowe@frontier.net>; ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: RC:  Re: exhausted horses (re: Dance Line)
> Date: Thursday, March 23, 2000 9:09 PM
> 
> 
> Hi Michelle,
> You will most likely get a variety of opinions about your question but I
> will humbly offer mine. I don't think you need to wait two years. If you
> have been riding and conditioning your horses and have them pretty much
in
> control, you should have no problem with LD's or 50's for that matter. I
> think that the key is *pace*. It will be of immense help to find an
> experienced mentor to condition with you and if possible to ride your
first
> ride. I was fortunate to have met several wonderful, knowledgeable riders
in
> the Rogue Riders (endurance club). Club rides helped me sort out a lot of
> things including trail etiquette. If you are not fortunate enough to
connect
> with someone, just remember to take it slow and pace yourself. Stop often
to
> let your horse munch on grass beside the trail, when you get to water,
give
> the horse all the time he needs. It even helps to get off and sponge the
> horse if it is hot. Sometimes, just your easy attitude will communicate
to
> the horse that it is no big deal and that you can stand there a good long
> time and he need not get excited. When and if he drinks, you can reward
him
> with a few nibbles of nearby grass. When you get to the holds, try to
> remember that the goal is a healthy and strong finish and you can stay
over
> the prescribed time if you feel your horse needs it. If he is eating, by
all
> means don't be in a hurry to mount up and hit the trail. I like to get
into
> my horse's "all day trot" and use that as the gait of choice for the day.
> When you get to a long easy grade or flat piece with good footing, an
easy
> canter gives those muscles a chance to stretch out and I just let the
horse
> come back into a trot when she feels like it. The key, I think, is to
decide
> that this ride will be a long training ride with lots of help along the
way
> (vet checks) to help you access how you are doing. You will more than
likely
> meet riders on the trail who are taking it easy and if you hook up with
> them, you will have a wonderful time. I guarantee it. Ride in this
fashion
> for your first several rides. Have as your goal finishing x amount of
rides
> for the season. Don't concern yourself with placing. Sometimes you will
be
> pleasantly surprised at where you end up placing. Give yourself and your
> horses a chance to learn while participating and enjoying all that this
> sport offers. And, (are you listening Tom?) remember that TO FINISH *IS*
TO
> WIN!!!!!!
> Pat Super
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Michelle Rowe <michrowe@frontier.net>
> To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2000 2:38 PM
> Subject: RC: exhausted horses (re: Dance Line)
> 
> 
> > I was looking for resources on exhausted horses and recognizing the
> symptoms
> > and found the good old AERC handbook has a nice section on it.  Thought
I
> > would send the link in case anyone else is interested.
> >
> > http://www.aerc.org/Veterinary/handbook.html
> >
> > I had planned two years minimally of NATRC with my young horses (coming
5
> > and 6) before trying an AERC ride, just to learn what the horses are
like
> > under stress and out on the trail in a more controlled setting.  Then
I'd
> > like to try slow 25's under AERC when the horses are fitter & seasoned
on
> > the trail.  Does this sound like a reasonable progression?
> >
> > m (aka Michelle Rowe)
> > Colorado
> > http://www.redwrench.com
> >
> >
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