Re: anerobic threshold

Truman Prevatt (truman.prevatt@netsrq.com)
Mon, 18 Nov 1996 10:32:37 -0400

>It is truely amazing what these arabians can do...even not conditioned
>properly. A good many riders train in competition...that is, use rides to get
>their horses fit. The smarter ones are going very slow and get faster as the
>season goes on. Those that don't run out of gas sooner or later and have
>injuries.
>
>I have NOT had my horses fit this year and hence, have only competed every
>6-8 weeks and slowly at that...AND, I am riding young horses who don't have
>enough base yet. And, in spite of being careful (and trying not to get
>D.I.M.R.--"Distance Induced Mental Retardation" by getting too enthusiastic)
>I have had some minor lameness problems...mostly muscle fatgue related. My
>fault..not enough time.
>
>More riders would benefit from understanding that just because the horse acts
>great and wants to "go" doesn't mean he is ready. I think this is the
>biggest evil to combat in our sport.

The Arabians may be too good for their own good. Being one that trained
and rode a non-arab, let me make a few comments. It took me a lot longer
to get Misty ready than it would an arab. That ment that I had to do a lot
training and a lot of slow 50's - about 500 miles worth before I let her
have her head. But after this process, her legs were ready for speed (this
is a horse that has done a 3:40 50 and won BC to boot). The only lameness
problems I have had with her were from tripping up in a rut and getting
kicked in the neck. She recovered quickly form both. My new challange
(now that Misty is working on becoming a mother) is to take what I have
learned and apply it to Dan (yes I have an Arab). So plan on seeing me at
the back of the pack for next year or two.

Many Arabs can go out a do sub four hour 50's after three months training.
Their legs are not ready and they usually don't last. Teddy is right on in
her comments above.

Truman

Truman Prevatt
Sarasota, FL