--------------- Included Message ---------------
From: V1V2:IDJ3Q.TVA.GOV
To: V1V2.TVA.GOV:Maze_Sullys
Subject: Re: [endurance] speed downhill
In-Reply-To: : V1V2.TVA.GOV:Maze_Sullys's message of 30-Aug-95 01:21
Leslie - Sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your training. I
have a couple of strategies that work for me that might help with developing
your own training program.
We train in the East Tennessee/NW Georgia mountains so it is fairly rugged
terrain. In training we work hard on the uphills. Generally, this means
trotting for extended periods of time. Although the horse needs to learn to
do a steady relaxed canter it is not necessary to spend much training time
doing it. If you use the uphills you won't have to canter a lot to get the
heart rate up where it needs to go for a training benefit. On downhills, we
walk so that we minimize the wear and tear on the legs. Also, there is no
aerobic gains in rushing downhill!
The books recommend lots of long, slow distance to develop an endurance horse.
To me, that means a LOT of trotting!
Hope this helps. Good luck with your training.
Dave Bennett
phone: (615) 751-3968
fax: (615) 751-3453
internet: idj3q.office@mhs-tva.attmail.com
--------------- Included Message ---------------
From: Maze_Sullys
To: Bennett_M_David
Subject: [endurance] speed downhill
Subject: [endurance] speed downhill
[31547] TUE 08/29/95 21:44 FROM Murgnme2@aol.com: [endurance] learning the hard
way...; 40 LINES
I learned a lesson this past weekend, the hard way, and unfortunately at the
expense of my horse. I realized that I rode her too long and too hard. Up
until about 6 - 8 weeks ago, when summer arrived, I was riding at least 2 -3
times a week. Cherokee was in great condition. Since then, I've only ridden
once every week or two, because it's been so hot.
This past weekend, I did alot of trotting up and down hills and a fair
amount of cantering, up and down hills (total of about 20 miles in one day).
My horse ended up with a very sore back, possibly scalded. Several folks
said that they had experienced similar problems, after using the Skito pad.
Anyone else out there have heat problems with this particular pad???
The next day, I discovered that Cherokee had some broken capillaries in her
nostrils, and a small amount of bloody discharge from her nose. I really
feel awful about this. I'm realizing that I need to change the way I ride.
I'm fairly new to this endurance stuff and I'm constantly learning. What
I'd like to know is, how much trotting and cantering do you folks
do....during conditioning and during an actual ride? I'd like to know if you
trot or canter up/down the hills??? I'd really appreciate any advice,
suggestions etc. Thanks.
Leslie and Cherokee
----------
I would also like to expand Leslie's questions and really try to
nail down how much and how fast downhill work you endurance folk do.
This thread came up several years ago on rec.equestrian, with
varying responses.
How fast do you go on a slight downhill with good footing. Do you
get off and run? Do you fast trot, slow canter?
Do you trot and canter downhill on competition? At all during
conditioning?
And, of course, it all depends on how much a rider competes. I
would think if a rider competes every other weekend and rides hard,
then he must be doing quite a bit of fast downhill work, even if he
isn't doing it on conditioning rides. But some riders compete so
much the rides become the conditioning.
And then, if you don't do some trotting downhill your horse would
not have the muscles or balance to do it on a ride.
I would really like to hear what everyone does.
Karen
To: ENDURANCE@MOSCOW.COM