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RE: [RC] Hillwork - Mike SofenYour field is about 7/8's of a mile around at the edges: (5200 ft to a mile, 1800 + 1800 + 500 + 500 = 4600 ft, divide 4600 ft by 5200 ft (4600/5200) and you get .885, 7/8's of a mile = .875, so that's close enough) , but considering your horse probably doesn't work into the corners, figure 1/2 to 3/4's of a mile if she was doing a real loop. Your slope is 7% (divide 125 by 1800: 125/1800= .0694 or just shy of 7% - that's a real hill. Mike -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Julie Fuller Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 2:47 PM To: Ridecamp Subject: [RC] Hillwork Hills are an awesome way to condition with the added benefit of (usually) being a pretty place to ride. Living in the NW, I have lots of hills, and have spent the last nine years riding exclusively in the mountains. Working up a flatlander horse takes time, but it is well worth it. I've seen big changes in gaits as well as conditioning, a lot more dramatic than with conditioning on the flat. Working on hills encourages rounding, and if you're cruising around on the trails at high speed, there is a lot of lateral flexion as well. I know my old lady pony is VERY flexible, even at 32. One thing I have noticed since my move three years ago.... My horses are pastured 24/7 on a hill, and they look awesome though I haven't been rising as much as I would like. I especially noticed it with the mare we got about 6 weeks ago. She had been in a small, nearly level pasture, (but still managed to run around acting like an AY-Rab) But since she's been here she has muscled up dramatically. Her butt and shoulders especially. I mean, no kidding, we're talking buff! I was shocked when my daughter rode her the other day, and I got to see her under saddle. Amazing. And here's a question for David LeBlanc and his finely honed mathmatical mind. *sly grin* If the field is 1800 feet long, 500 feet wide, what is the distance around? And what is the % grade if it increases 125 feet in elevation on the long side? Julie ============================================================ I don't think you have to join a gym or buy frilly outfits to get some fitness. A decent set of shoes and a 15 minute dismount here and there will help. ~ Jon K. Linderman, Ph.D., FACSM, Assistant Professor of Health and Sport Science, University of Dayton ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================ ============================================================ Arabians were bred for years primarily as a war horse and those requirements are similar to what we do today with endurance riding. ~ Homer Saferwiffle ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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