Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Jobs and Training - The Minimalist Approach

I remember Dru very well....we had 1 excellent ride together...Cora
----- Original Message -----
From: <Stagg_Newman@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 20, 2002 5:49 PM
Subject: [RC] Jobs and Training - The Minimalist Approach


> My job typically only allows me to ride on weekends except perhaps for 3/4
> hour on equitation work
> in a ring during the week so I have developed a minimalist approach to
> conditioning and training.
> BTW I believe many people over train their horses.
>
> So here is the approach that works for me for training for tough 100s.
>
> 1.  Be patient and build your horse up over 3 years to get them ready for
a
> 100.  Add another year before increasing speed.
> 2.  Include regular equitation lessons on your horse to teach him rhythm,
> balance, and alignment.
> 3.  Do serious conditioning only one day a week but make that intense.
> Note that I have the advantage
> of living in the mountains so a typical training ride consists for 1 and
> 1/2 to 2 hours with several 1000 feet
> of climbing.  We aim to be able to do a 2000 foot climb trotting and
> galloping when the horse is at peak.
> ( Becky Hart and Dr. Jeannie Waldron taught me this).  On some weekends we
> will do less climbing but
> go 20 to 25 miles in typically 3 to 4 hours.
> 4.  Use competitions for conditioning.  I will use a 50 as conditioning
but
> I rarely race 50s, rather I pace them.
> 5.  After a tough 100 give the horse plenty of rest.  (For example after
> the Old Dominion 4 weeks off).
>
> Note that the following program works well for an athletic Arab that is
not
> to big.  A heavily muscled horse
> will probably need more conditioning.  And those folks without mountains
> will have to do more riding.
>
> While some may say that such a program will result in an underconditioned
> horse, it works for me as noted below.
>
> I used the following program with Jayel Super in 2001 and the running
fates
> were kind to me.
> In March Super did the Hallelujah 100 with my wife riding and finished 3rd
> (much to our surprise - we thought we were much further back).
> In April we did the Middleburg Research 50 and finished 9th.  These two
> rides were conditioning for the heart of the season.
> Then in May Super won and got BC at the Biltmore 100.  Super then got a
> couple weeks of rest.
> In June at the Old Dominion Super won, set the course record for the
course
> used since 1994, got BC, high vet score, and the Old Dominion trophy.
> Super then got 4 weeks of rest.
> In August Super was 4th at the Pan American Championship and shared a team
> gold medal.  He then got a long very well deserved rest.
>
> Admittedly I was very lucky to get a very good athlete in Jayel Super.
> Thanks to Janice Leinhart and Dr. Dwight Hooten!
>
> Note that same season my then 18 year old veteran Ramegwa Drubin did the
> Hallelujah 100 ride (March) and finished 4th,
> the Middleburg Research 50 (April) and finished in the middle pack, and
> then finished 6th at the Liberty Run 100 Memorial Day Weekend.
> Drubin was NOT ridden between the those rides.  He did free run with Super
> on some of his training rides.
>
> Admittedly Drubin had quite a base having at that point done about 30 one
> day 100s in his career.  (Heidi probably remembers
> Drubin when he was at the top of his form in the early '90s)
>
> So my theory is to:
>    minimize the training miles to save the horses legs,
>    teach the horse proper equitation,
>    build the horse's strength up over years, particularly the tendons, and
>    ligaments,
>    and then train the heart  and lungs through intense work at most once a
>    week.
>
> I believe Dr. Jeannie Waldron who has won the OD 3 times and has several
> FEI medals has a similar philosophy.
> Would be interested to hear if others have a similar approach.
>
> Stagg Newman
>
>
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