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I agree with your assessment and conclusion--only other factor not  
mentioned is the human factor.  After fighting the lost-mind thing,  
does the HUMAN have what it takes to make it 50 miles?  So it might  
take more prep than otherwise expected for #2 to have a happy  
outcome :-)  I prefer that #2 happen at a multiday ride with no LD  
offered, to stack the odds a bit more in my favor, no horses suddenly  
coming up fast from behind.

Lynne

On Nov 27, 2006, at 9:04 AM, Diane Trefethen wrote:

> If your horse's conditioning program has been fairly consistent  
> (average wk = 3 rides including one longer 20 to 25 miles) and your  
> horse does the longer ride averaging about 5 mph looking great and  
> ready for more, then that horse is physically ready for a 50.  The  
> only remaining issue is which advice about dealing with a lost mind  
> (almost every horse loses his mind at his first ride) sounds right  
> to you for your horse?
>
> The two camps are basically:
>
> 1) There is so much for your horse to absorb that adding going 50  
> miles is just overload.  Cut him some slack.  Once he gets the  
> routine down, there will be plenty of time to do a 50.
> 2) If your horse is physically ready for a 50, do 50.  If he does  
> only a 25, he might get the idea that 25 is it, a piece of cake,  
> and be even more difficult to rate on subsequent rides.
>
> Having started a young horse both ways, I favor #2.  #2 is also  
> know as "the fear of God" technique.  Once lost, your horse's mind  
> will not return till around 40 miles out.  By then, of course, the  
> 25 is over and your horse will have spent the whole thing mindless  
> and learned nothing except that if he runs like hell, or tries to,  
> he'll get through it.  Contrast that with him meeting God at 40  
> miles out.  He suddenly realizes he's really tired and miracle of  
> miracles, his mind returns.  He wants to quit - some actually  
> balk.  But bottom line is that he's out on the trail with 10 miles  
> to go and he gets to spend that entire 10 miles THINKING.  Then, as  
> Heidi said, the next time out he remembers, "Gee, it is a long day  
> out there when we come to these things, so I'd better not be silly."

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