 |
[RC] Training Facilities (was too quiet) - John Teeter>Then as we say in the South, "throw a dead fish on the table to get things warmed up :-)."Ok - here's a dead fish then:) As I mentioned, I think there are two main endurance villages in UAE, one near Abu Dhabi and one near Dubai. Each village has lodging/food/stabling facilities for events. In addition, around each village there are numerous stables, each with their own training/racing programs. So it's not like there are only two, there are a bunch. Just guessing, and throwing out a number, there might be something like 600 or 1000 endurance horses under training within a 20 mile radius of each of the villages. Now that's a high concentration of endurance prospects. Each stable has access to the endurance courses (tracks?:) for their training activities. And the tracks are kept in top shape (surface/moisture/etc.). Basically the perfect conditions for training a horse to go fast for a long time. Additionally, each stable attempts to get an edge by applying procedures and tech (like the swimming pool) - but the focus is, it seems, on how to condition for the optimal speed conditions. Steph posted the times from the recent Presidents Cup. There were 9 horse/rider teams under 8 hours. Seems like it is working. One additional comment, any time you push that close to the envelope, you need suitable facilities to deal with the always present danger of crashes (and less critical lameness and such). Dr. Jim Baldwin took Steph and I on a tour of the equine hospital near the Dubai facility. I think this serves both villages. There was also a hospital horse van which contained most of a field hospital it seemed. Point being, they are prepared to provide the best care possible when the envelope becomes too thin. So, if you want to run with the best, you gotta train with the best (or at least as intensely as the best). We found that out in many international sports (remember gymnastics in the 70s?) I don't see much wrong with striving for that level of excellence. It is a different playing field from what we've had in other parts of the world, but if the focus is on speed, then it's crazy not to have the best environment to train and race it. Take for example in the US, converting the upper Fort Valley area into an endurance village for training on mountainous terrain, or making the cross Florida greenway (can't remember the name..:( into an area for fast/flat winter training) and then have all the endurance riders in those areas quit there jobs and do nothing but train and experiment and ride etc.) That may be what it takes to stay competitive at the international level of the sport. That is how the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado came into being.... Hows all that for a dead fish:-) johnt
Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|