Re: RC: how hard is this?

[RQuestarabians@aol.com]

I would like to offer some simple words of advice that have worked for me. I 
have been doing endurance for 5 years now. My Arabian gelding Classy is now 
18 1/2 years old and still going strong in endurance. He got a late start in 
life doing endurance. I am very proud of him. He has almost reached his 1000 
mile mark and is currently  4th place in the PS region. I feel that I must be 
doing something somewhat right to be able to keep him going so strong so 
long. I have always wanted the very best for my endurance horses. After all 
these "beautiful gifts of god" give me their all day in and day out right? I  
have competed in high levels of running (Track and Field and Cross country/ 
marathon running) so I myself as an athlete understand what it takes on a 
human level to train for the level of competition. It has been my experience 
that the same dedication and theories that go into human endurance 
running/competition (for the competitive athletes anyway) carry over into the 
same principals as conditioning the endurance horse.
1) Whatever you do stay CONSISTANT with feeding, training, etc.
2) There cannot be no surprises. You wouldn't go from running 3 miles a few 
times a week to doing a marathon would you? You probably could but it is not 
fair to your body and you risk injury. Gradually build up your horse so there 
is no surprises. In the very beginning stages I tend to ride 4-5 days a week 
at an easy trot. My goal is strive towards consistancy at the trot, 
developing, heart, endurance, tendons, bones etc. Depending on how the horse 
is doing,  every week I step up the rides 15-20 minutes longer. Every week I 
add something a little different. Depending on the horse, after 4-6 weeks I 
start replacing a couple of the training days with  some cavaletti work/ 
arena work/ intervals on hills (GYM / strengthening work. I try to keep the 
horse interested and happy in what they are doing.
3) As far as supplements and all of that.  . . I tend to  stay as SIMPLE/NATUR
AL as possible. My goal, if possible, is to keep the horse on a all you they 
can eat grass/ grain hay diet. I give my horses free choice Rushcreek 
minerals by ABC ( keeps the horses Calcium / phosphous in balance) This is 
very important!!!! I do not give alot of grain if any. Classy has done fine 
on an all grass/grain hay diet. I recommend plain barley/corn if you have to 
give grain in order to keep weight on. I give free choice fresh water and a 
small bucket of electrolye water free choice. I use Ride Rite electrolytes by 
ABC. I prefer to let the horse choose whether or not they need electrolytes. 
My horses never have metabolic problems at the rides or need electrolytes, 
perhaps because they are coming to the rides with there system already being 
balanced. Although, Classy in his beginning days did have severe metabolic 
problems with Thumps. He was not on the diet he is on now. I was feeding a 
multitude of supplements Alfalfa hay etc. and having to electolyte like crazy 
and add Calcium Gluconate to the electrolytes. He has been metabolic problem 
free I feel by just keeping things simple and natural.
Well, I hope this information helps. I know it can be intimidating starting 
endurance with all the different, Tack, shoeing techniques, opinions, etc. My 
best advice is to start out keeping things as simple and as natural  and 
comfortable to the horse as possible. Every horse is different. But if we 
stay as close to nature as possible for our answers I don't think we can go 
too far wrong!
Robyn Levash