Re: RC: Conditioning for 100 milers

[DebiG54@aol.com]

In a message dated 09/01/2000 11:45:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
dearab@horsecom.net writes:

<< Now that we know what your training schedule was like, how about your 
competitive season?
  How many rides a year?  Total competitive miles in a year?  How long 
between rides?  Any layup after a ride?  A season off?
 Also, since Susan brought it up, at what age did he retire, and what kind of 
afflictions beset him in old age?
  We'd love to know. >>

Abby:

My training schedule was and is an ever changing thing.  And just a word of 
caution...my training and racing schedules were and are not the ideal.  I, 
like most of you, have my REAL LIFE that limited and still limits me to some 
extent.  All of my years campaigning Redman were also being spent raising 
three kids (now 20, 17, and 14), so this sport has never been my only focus.  

That said...Redman is 18 and semiretired.  He raced hard and fast for 10-11 
years on the training plan already described.  He was an extremely sound 
horse for most of those years, with intermittent lamenesses creeping in at 
age 14 and 15.  Yet, with proper management and joint supplements (Advanced 
Biological Concepts' Joint Jolt) his career extended into last season.  Even 
after arthritic changes became evident, he ran extraordinary races (1998 win 
at Biltmore and sub 8 hour victory at Carolina 100, to name a few). He also 
continued, as he always had, to win best condition almost every race.  I 
promised myself not to retire him as a cripple, so I won't ask him to run 
full speed again.  Until this year, he still wanted to go for it.  Redman 
always had that "look of eagles."  Now, he looks a little sleepy most of the 
time. Ha!  He seems to have grown accustomed to the fat and sassy life of a 
retiree.

It's funny...during my extraordinary years with him, I was never given much 
credit for helping create this phenomenal horse.  That always bugged me a 
little, since I was more than a trained monkey on his back.   Now I realize 
that's as it should be.  Worldwide, during his best years, his name was much 
more well known than mine.  It was the HORSE that was the star, not the 
rider.  It's different now.   

I've never had one year turn out like another as far as competition goes, and 
no plan I started the year with has ever been fully realized.  Too much 
always happens in "real life" or in horse training to waylay all the best 
intentions.  I've never competed for mileage records either.  I train to win 
or place as high as possible with all my horses, once they're ready.  
Competitive miles have varied from 250 to 800 in a single season.  Training 
miles are usually about the same no matter what--that is, each horse is 
ridden 3-4 days a week, usually at 15-25 miles at a time.  After a race, my 
horses get at least a week off with nothing to do but be turned out.  I've 
never done a hundred miler closer than 4 weeks apart and wouldn't suggest a 
50 miler closer than two weeks apart.  The faster you ride, the more careful 
you must be about giving enough recuperation time.  I, personally, have never 
had a reason to give a full season off, but have had to give a horse a few 
months to get over an injury.  Just normal stuff.

I do all my own work, from cleaning stalls to doing all the riding of all my 
horses.  So, I don't frustrate myself with trying to meet a rigid schedule.  
I train as hard as I can, when I can, given the parameters of daily life.  

Some competitors have the luxury of lots of time and lots of money to put 
towards their endurance goals.  I've never had either of those and have 
managed to compete at top levels anyway.  Most of my races, including 100s, 
have been raced and often won without a pit crew, too.

I'm trying to make a point here...this sport is now crawling with people who 
want to analyze it, dissect it, maximize it, package it, and make it into 
"rocket science."  For those of you who want to do that, that's fine with me. 
 I prefer to keep it simple and just stick to what works.  There's really no 
substitute for intelligent, well planned training on a well-conformed horse 
lucky enough to have a rider who's done his/her homework and knows how to 
apply it.  Each horse is different.  Each race is different.  Have fun!

Debi Gordon