I haven't followed this entire thread so
my comments on the paragraph below may be way off base. There are many
horses that "metabolically" might be able to handle the pace or the
gait the horse chooses or seems comfortable at but mechanically may break
down. Just because the horse travels at a low HR doesn't necessarily
mean that mechanically he can canter or trot fast for 25 or 50 miles unless
you have specifically trained for that. I suggest traveling at the speed
that you train for and travel at the gait that you condition for.
There are a lot of horses that are allowed to pick their own pace/gait at the
beginning of a ride and end up not finishing. Sometimes the damage
done during the first part of a ride/race doesn't show up until the later
stages of the competition and in my opinion it can be too late to
accomplish anything positive by slowing down..
I think that the pace & gait you ride
at during competition should reflect what you are trying to accomplish during
the horse's training & conditioning rides.
Kim Fuess
AERC #6648
Kim Fuess
AERC #6648
In a message dated 04/20/2006 10:22:11 AM Pacific Standard Time,
jspoone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
I've only completed one ride so far and came in 8th (we planned
on last place lol). We cantered most of the way, my horse canters at
about 120hr, he trots at 150ish. I would suggest (from my limited
experience) go at the pace you are both comfortable at. If he can canter
it all and meet the criteria in the vetchecks then great, if he can't
then slow him down. Jess Spoone-Raines
