Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

[RC] Reconditioning Advice Request - April

Hi, I would like some advice.

My horse was fit to do a 50 and a 25 back to back in early October.
Due to vehicle malfunctions, we didn't make it to that ride. I pulled
his shoes and turned him onto our back 3 acres which is nothing but a
hill (probably not as steep as Angie's hill ;-), but a hill
nonetheless). He spent the next 3 months running up and down that hill
with his buddies. No riding.

In late January, I brought him back into work. He's had 3 weeks of
reconditioning rides building him back up slowly with walking and
trotting until he can do 15 miles at a 5.5 mph average and shorter
rides at a faster speed. I've been told by my doctor not to ride for a
week (if I can help it ;-)) and I've been off my horse for 5 days
already.

My goal is to get ready to do 2 50s the second week of April (one on
Friday, the other on Sunday). If I follow  my doctor's orders, I will
have 6 full weeks for conditioning. My proposed schedule calls for
long rides of 20-25 miles for 5 Sundays in a row at speeds from 5-6
mph. The mid-week rides will be 1 or 2 10-12 mile rides at 6.5-8 mph.

This schedule builds in a week for rest before leaving for the ride
and we'll arrive Wednesday evening for a Friday ride. My goal for the
50 milers is to complete at 5.5 mph.

Is this a reasonable goal? I plan somewhat to play it by ear, doing
the first ride and seeing how he recovers. I can always drop back to
the 25 or even scrap the second day altogether. But I'm just wondering
if I'm being unreasonable thinking we can do 2 50s at the beginning of
our 3rd season. (We did 3 50s and an LD last season.)

Thanks for your opinions. Private or public replies welcome.

endurancerider at gmail dot com

April
Nashville, TN

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=