Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

If you're the first to agree with a poster ("me too"), is it a  
violation of the Ridecamp Oath?  Dang, Frank, that is so well said.

Beginning of the season, with 2 rides completed last week, I've been  
assessing where my coming 9 yr old gelding is developmentally in  
order to semi-plan the year's activities.  Since he hadn't done  
anything but drag/unmark half a ride since last spring, I just had  
not fully realized how much the year's flatwork and "trailssage" had  
prepared him for efficient travel in competition.   He had so much  
more "bottom" than I expected, that I'm still gasping a little at the  
possibilities, including 100s.  And I was barely sore even despite  
the amount of reining him back that was necessary. :-P  Today he saw  
the chiro for the 2nd time in a year, and almost didn't need it--and  
no sore spots anywhere from the saddle or girth. :-) Cautious  
optimism--still getting him dialed in metabolically in terms of  
ridecamp food varieties (could eat more...hoovers in the vet checks  
though.)  If luck is when preparation meets opportunity, we might  
have a good year.

Lynne
the plan, the plan!  Ride the multidays and shoot the singles--see  
some of you at Warner Springs!

On Jan 4, 2006, at 4:10 PM, DVeritas@xxxxxxx wrote:

> Okay, "partially-trained" horses can successfully do some distance  
> riding.
> "Partially-trained" riders can successfully do some distance riding.
>
> Now, when a rider starts "campaigning" a horse, be it at the  
> Limited Distance riding level, or Endurance Riding level, the  
> partially-trained horse will suffer it's training.
>
> It is a truth I've seen time and time again.  A misstep on the  
> trail, by a tired horse, who has had benefit of proper gymnastic  
> work, legging up, etc., be it on the trail or in an arena, will  
> result in injury on fewer occasions than the same misstep by a  
> "partially-trained" horse who hasn't had benefit of focused and  
> purposeful strength-building, elasticity-building exercise and  
> rider management.
>
> I love a horse who jumps into the trailer and is eager to go  
> somewhere and do something.  I love a horse who can stand tied to a  
> trailer for long periods of time.  I love a horse who can go down  
> the trail with manners and without being a danger to anyone around  
> it.  Who wouldn't love and treasure a horse like that.
>
> But, in fairness to the horse, Endurance Riding/Racing is the type  
> of endeavor if you're going to ask it of the horse, give it the  
> benefit of true preparation, conditioning and focused management.
>
> Anything short of that is just not fair to the endurance  
> horse...who aspires to the simplest of all goals...to live without  
> undue pain, fear or anxiety, while simultaneously trying to do its  
> job of being a reliable, sound saddle horse.
>
> This is not a topic which should engender defensiveness on the part  
> of riders, but more a topic which should be discussed with the  
> welfare of the horse in mind.
>
> Gosh...
>   Frank Solano
>   AERC #8422


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

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!!

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