Re: RC: early nutrition for future distance horses

["Carolyn Burgess" <carolyn_burgess@hotmail.com>]

Michelle:

Can't help on the feed question, but can on the ponying.  This is a great 
way to help develop and set the bone so that you can start riding this horse 
as a 3 year old, and sometimes even younger. Yes, younger.  The way to set 
the bone for weight bearing is an acronym, LSD (long, slow, distance).  For 
the bones to set properly, the horse needs at least 1000 hours of LSD.  
Start slowly, based on the age.  I wouldn't start before they were a year 
old.  Start by ponying at a walk for short distances, let the horse set the 
pace.  When they have some conditioning, lenghten the distance, still 
letting them set the pace (slower is better).  Then once they are 
comfortably at 10 - 12 miles, start raising the pace (but not beyond a light 
trot) until they have the minimum of 1000 hours.  If you start this as a 
yearling, they should be ready to start light saddle work at 2.  As with all 
training programs, you should be consulting your vet to make sure that there 
aren't any specific issues with your horse.  I'm sure there are others out 
there who will add to this.  Good luck with your new baby.

Carolyn Burgess
carolyn_burgess@hotmail.com


>From: "Michelle Fink" <michrowe@redwrench.com>
>To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
>Subject: RC:  early nutrition for future distance horses
>Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 07:50:35 -0700
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>I just bought a 6 month old gaited Morab to grow up in our canyons and now 
>I
>am wondering how to properly feed for optimal growth.  My "Feeding To Win"
>book says 1 lb. of a foal concentrate (15.5% - 16% protein) per 100 lbs. of
>body weight fed daily (in 2-3 feedings) +  free choice hay.   Is this how
>people raising endurance-bred foals are feeding?  Unfortunately, pasture
>won't green up for a few more months, so I need to get by on dry feeds.
>Can/will foals eat beetpulp mashes??  Any reason not to feed her some?
>Also, once the filly is settled in and leading well, is there any reason 
>not
>to pony it along for short slow rides (3-5 miles)?  I want to raise my own
>ultimate distance horse, this is going to be FUN. :-)
>
>Thanks
>
>Michelle
>(Colorado)
>
>
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