ridecamp@endurance.net: re: [endurance] Steep Hills
re: [endurance] Steep Hills
idj3q@tva.gov ("idj3q@tva.gov")
Fri, 14 Jun 1996 08:30:34 -0400
As one who routinely trains on steep hills I can vouch for the fact that it
will both muscle the horse AND develop the cardio-vascular system. It is
quite easy to get that heart rate up going up a mountain in the same way as
when doing interval training on the flat by simply alternating walking and
jogging. With a fit horse on the flat, it is difficult to get the heart rate
up as high as it needs to go for any extended period of time without some
running. Interval training on the flat does work for cardio-vascular
conditioning but it takes longer. Some folks swear by work in the sand to
shorten the conditioning time but I have no experience with it.
That said, I think it is very important in competition to only do what the
horse has done in training. If the rides he is going to do are flat and he is
expected to travel at an extended trot or fast canter then he should have some
work at those gaits and that speed on the same type of terrain beforehand. I
found that it took my horse some time to learn to travel in a relaxed
handgallop for long periods of time. Interval training won't teach this
because the horse has to travel too fast and for too short a time.
Mountains are WONDERFUL!!!!
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Dave Bennett - Ben Amil & Southern Rock
Chickamauga, Georgia
e-mail: idj3q@tva.gov
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