Carol,
You wrote:
> I am planning on doing my first 25 mile race. E News doesn't publish times
> so it is hard to determine just what people mean by a fast 25 vs a slow 25.
> Allowing for variations in terrain and temperature, what do you consider to
> be a good time for which to aim.
A "fast" 25 is 2 hours (12-13 mph), while a "slow" 25 is using the
entire time of 6 hours. You should find a measured area of about 12
miles, hopefully in terrain similar to the ride you want to attend,
& time you & your horse at a comfortable pace. You will take about
twice this long to complete the 25. You'll probably go a bit faster
at the beginning (excitement), and a lot slower at the end so it will
all even out.
A "good time for which to aim" is whatever you & your horse are ready
for - not somebody else's pace. Our first ride was at 6.5 mph
(barely fast enough) because I held him back - not sure how he'd
do. We now ave 8-10 mph for 25 miles, and quite a bit slower for
50's (6 mph) after one year of training.
I hope that this helps.
Linda Flemmer
ABF Challenger ("Rocket") & Eternal Point ("Major")
Blue Wolf Ranch
Chesapeake, VA
"In case of emergency - Fur side up, steel side down!"