Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Hello Ed,

You are right that many factors enter in and I agree that the 10min 60bpm
is simple but no guarantee. What I was getting at was to use every stop
to check recovery for a while to prevent a buildup of heat or stress or
dehydration or whatever, sort of like a string of mini training rides
instead of the big vet check to vet check push. Gives a rider a better
chance to recognize trouble sooner and also learn what kind of trail and
speed causes the worst recovery times for their horse. Definitely not
gonna get top ten on that routine, just dinner. ;-)

Don Huston


At 04:43 PM 6/18/2008 Wednesday, you wrote:
> "...your horse
> cannot reach 60 bpm within 10 minutes WHENEVER YOU STOP then you are over
> riding your horse..."
>  
>  
> I respectfully disagree.  If you are riding a well
> conditioned horse in very humid (>95% humidity) and high temperatures
> (>90 F), unless lots of cold water is placed on the horse, the pulse
> can easily hang over 60 for extended periods.  Cooling requires
> someplace for the heat to go.  It can be used to evaporate
> water.  At high humidity, and high temperatures (we are talking high
> dew points here in addition to high relative humidity.  Dew point is
> really what controls things, we just aren't used to thinking about that.)
> the 102 F water sweat out on the horse just will not evaporate taking
> heat with it.  The same goes for conduction to the air.  The
> amount of heat transferred (with all other variables controlled) is
> proportional to the temperature difference.  There just is not much
> difference between a 102 F horse and 95 F air.
>  
>  
> Please note:  I am just trying to say that a simple
> prescription of so many minutes to a certain pulse is just to simple, the
> ambient conditions, the horse, his state of training etc. all have to be
> taken into consideration.  Colics happen.  Ranger ended up in a
> vet hospital for 2 days with colic.  He came into the check, pulsed
> immediately, etc.  20 minutes later he felt rotten.  45 minutes
> later he was on IV.  I wish horses were as simple as certain pulse
> and recovery.
>  
> Ed
> Ed & Wendy Hauser
> 2994 Mittower Road
> Victor, MT 59875
>  
> (406) 642-9640
>  
> ranch(at)sisuwest(dot)us

Don Huston
donhuston @ cox .net
SanDiego, Calif