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Re: [RC] ATTN: Folks who don't use HRMs - Vicki AustinI found my HRM to be very helpful for ME and my horse. He is a jokester and without the moniter he makes me think I am working him too hard. When we are alone he plods along and acts like he is extremly tired (going away from home I might add) and without the HM I let him go a lot slower thinking he is tired. THEN when we turn for home, no matter how far we have gone or which direction we have gone, he acts like I haven't ridden him in weeks and is off the wall, doing airs above the ground, jumping across the path (road) shying, hopping up and down, taking off all of a sudden when we are supposed to be walking, prancing, jigging, cantering in place etc. The first time I used the HRM I found out he was only working at 80 while doing that little 6-8 MPH trot (going away from home) WITH the HRM I work him more consistantly between 90 and 120 with now and then up the hills at 150 - 170 so he actually GETS worked. Or breezing on long inclines and raising it a little more briefly. I spent the first few training rides thinking he was sick or tired when we started off and turned back for home, so many times when he was quiet and slow only to find out the second we turned around he would jump up and down and start this "hurray we are going home" thing. Then I would turn around again and he would be quiet. Bizzarr behavior. I finnally decided to ignore it and work by the HRM. We are both happier that way. I can work him more on the way away from home and he is a tiny bit quieter on the way home. I guess it all depends on your horse. If you have one that sulks going away from home for a few miles (when alone) and you need to push him to get him worked, HRM are an invaluable tool. If you have a horse that goes along no matter what you probably do not need it. I never needed one before I had this horse. He is difficult, I have had him for almost eight years now and I love him to death. Wouldn't trade him no matter what. It just took a while to figure out his personality and what made him tic. Even at rides the minute he gets board he gets quiet, then when he isn't board any more he is silly. I always called him Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde. It was very intersting at dressage shows. One class he would be good (quiet) and the next the judges would be laughing hysterically because of his antics. --- Ed & Wendy Hauser <ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I found a HRM to be very instructive in teaching me how hard my horse was working. Later I found that since I am a heavy weight, my limiting factor was not the cardiovascular conditioning, but rather the legs. Obviously, a HRM did not tell me about legs until it was to late. At about the same time, I purchased an OF, and was able to ride with the girth rather loose. The loose girth prevented girth sores, but made reliable HRM readings hard. I was going to shave and superglue the electrodes on, but eventually decided I was not getting enough information to be useful. If one is careful about listening to your horse, you can figure quite closely how hard he is working and how tired without an HRM. The place I use a HRM is on a belt at vet checks. I strip tack, put on the HRM belt with the watch set to beep at the appropriate pulse and start sponging. Since I have either no or one crew (depending on whether Wendy is competing that day) it probably saves me a minute or two each vet stop. Ed Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower Road Victor, MT 59875 ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx 406.642.6490 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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