Re: [RC] national championship ride, treatment, conditions, etc. - Kristen A Fisher
I am probably preaching to the choir, but what
people say about using HRMs is true. The data can surprise you. I have not
been distance riding that long, but when I started using my HRM I noticed
immediately that in soft/muddy footing, HR is 20++ higher than on firm footing.
Sure surprised me. I knew it was harder for them but this really quantified
it.
A few weeks later, we were riding in about 85
degree weather at about 12 mph trot. She was working at 200 bpm [I slowed down
when I saw that]. The next day was the same temperature, but much less humid. At
12 mph her HR was 175 bpm. At Llano Estacado, trotting 5-6 mph up hills was
bringing her to 180-190 bpm [we rested on ridges to get her back to aerobic
zone]. Use of the HRM has really opened my eyes to the variances in footing,
terrain, and weather that can take a toll on the horse. And it is another tool
to help me take care of her.
Subject: [RC] national championship ride,
treatment, conditions, etc.
it sounds like the heat and conditions at this ride were more than some
bargained for. it was really hot and humid back in may for the liberty run,
which is the last ride i did. i started two days, and didnt finish
either day. STFFC,(speed too fast for conditions) thats what
it was! drop the temperature 20 degrees and things would have
probably been fine. reduce my ground speed and things would have
probably been fine. let me ride on flat terrain with firm footing,
things would have probably been fine. now, which of these options do i have
control over? pretty easy isnt it? it is still the
rider's responsibility to take all factors into account and ride
accordingly. sometimes it is not quite as easy to recognize certain
things when you are sitting in the saddle. your horse may feel good to you,
and look good too, but that higher temperature can just sneak up on you,
and you may realize a bit too late that the same horse that was fine at
a 8 1/2 mph trot a month earlier, under completely different conditions,
probably needed to cut back to 5 mph for today's
ride.
