I am only skimming much of this discussion..looks like it will be very
valuable. My experience has been similar to yours...I live in the hills of
SE Ohio and that's where I train....we have short steep hills which, when
galloped (actually lunged) when a horse is quite fit (I NEVER do this until
MONTHS of preparation are under my horse) I can unduce an over 200 heartbeat,
but it is momentary and the drop is rapid. Hence, not only do I feel it is
difficult to achieve the HR of 200 or better, I don't feel it is necessary
for what we are doing. In training I monitor my horse and ride accordingly,
trying to achieve "intervals" of stress and recovery. I am a firm believer in
Tom Ivers' theories on conditioning and although I consider his book "The Fit
Racehorse II" (1996) my bible and the BEST book on the subject, I do my best
to adapt his very good basics principles to my training. In conpetition I
set my high alarm at 160 BPM and back off whenever it goes off..I have found
that my horse fatigues much later in an event if I do this AND, I might add,
I have NEVER had a horse tie up. Now, for the sake of knowing where I am at,
consider also that I am a finisher..usually top ten or near (east coast has
20-40 horses on a 50 and maybe 20 on a 100 here), so I am not asking for
optimal performance every time I compete. I ride where my horse is ready.
One more important comment...especially to those new to using HRM..remember,
they are stress monitors, not fatigue monitors.
Teddy