I have always been taught that when you trailer a horse, it is as if you rode the horse for that amount of time. So, if you are trailering 5 hours, ask yourself, would you ride this horse 5 or 6 hours, then ask it to go 50 miles...I don't think I would do it, even with my (now) seasoned horse personally. If it was 2 hours, sure..as long as I could get there early enough to give my horse at least an hour rest. Just my personal opinion...
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From: mikelewis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] Trailering, then riding Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:06:22 -0500
I am finding that I frequently am unable to get out
of work in time to get to rides on Friday afternoons or early evenings as I'd
like (5:00 pm is when my boss lets me go and I can't ask to leave early on a
semi-frequent basis). When I was doing LD, I didn't fret too much about
arriving at a ride shortly before it began the day of the race; however I've
moved "up" to 50s (on an experienced horse) and am not sure arriving the day of
a race will be so kind to my horse now.
If a race is being ridden more as a ride, i.e.
conservatively, is there any reason one could not simply trailer to a ride the
day of the event and give the horse an hour or two to recover from
the trailer ride before starting? Starting late is OK, as I know
my mare will have no trouble completing most rides well within time (even with a
late start). She trailers well and often, and I'd plan to simply ride
these types of rides for completion. What are folks'
thoughts/experiences on this? I'd trailer no more than 5-6 hours
before such a ride.
