This brings up another question. I read recently that human athletes
actually improve their conditioning during the rest and recovery period -
that the actual conditioning itself does not improve the body, but rather it
occurs during the recovery and rest time after the workout. Would this also
hold true for our equine athletes? Maybe the rest period after a ride is as
much or more important than the actual ride itself?
I have asked several riders how much rest before and after a ride they give
their horses. I don't think I have gotten two answers the same. Everybody
is so different. Does anybody have a general idea of what a good rest
period would be for the average endurance horse completing an average 50,
100, or multiday ride? Is there any way to tell when a horse has fully
recovered from a race? I know that just because they 'look' good, or
'feel' good that there is more to it than that.
Another question I've been dying to find out more about too! How do most of
you feel about doing back to back rides (50's, for example) on your horses?
How many of you have done it, and with what results? (We know Tina's horse
Ember's can do it quite well!). I had considered this season doing two 50's
back to back, and everybody (everybody!) told me not to, that I should wait
until 1) the horse is older, and 2) he has more endurance miles. So I did,
I figure it's easier to go slower now than to get carried away and cause a
problem I won't be able to fix. (darn logic!) I had a few very experienced
riders (with thousands of miles) tell me it is easier on a horse to do a
multiday ride than it is to do a ride two weeks in a row. Is there any
truth to that, or are they just repeating what somebody else has told them?
If it is easier, why would that be so?
Happy Trails,
Karen
in Gardnerville
& Weaver
& Rocky
P.S. Guess what!!!! Rocky's hives are better today, for the first time!!!
Yay!!!! They are just bumps today, rather than big swollen lumps. :))))))