Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Need more advice please...

On Wed, 25 Sep 2002 14:30:37 -0400, "Colleen Jones"
<djcjkj@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>I need a mentor or something!!! I have done three rides with a fifteen year old gelding who was a high mileage horse in his younger days. He is race bred and is a speed machine. However, I cannot condition him in the typical way. I can ride him daily, six days per week but could only go out on a long ride once for sure maybe twice. So, I work him about 40-60minutes with some dressage and he did horrible at his last ride. He seemed tired and he was footsore so that could have been the problem. (I'm sure it was) We have done two 15's and an 18. He's not usually ready to eat on those short rides and the half way point so I struggle with gut sounds. I worked with him on the second ride and he did good on impulsion but not this last time. He is usually a hot tamale.He has a tendency to get bored if he is not on new trail. I feed him about 3lbs on buckeye supreme with added oil, free choice salt and biotin. I really wanted to try a longer ride before the season is over but I am worried.
>Should I give him somthing else to boost his energy. For three years all we did was run all over the countryside and now he is not as eager. I wonder about changes in his hocks and such as his age. Any ideas? THanks, COlleen P.S. This horse won a 100 mile race and was BC, so that's the energy level he used to have LOL.

This sounds like a classic case of over-conditioning.  Give him at
least a week of complete rest.  Then, cut your rides to no more than
three per week, always giving a day off after a working day.



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