ridecamp@endurance.net: Aussie endurance-HR and gut sound ?

Aussie endurance-HR and gut sound ?

McClements Darryl (dmcclement@infotech.agric.wa.gov.au)
Mon, 21 Apr 97 13:08:00 PDT

Hi again from sunny Australia!
I have a couple of questions that I'd like to pose which I'm hoping someone
may be able to help with. I recently brought my 15yo p/arab mare back into
endurance after a 2 year competition break, she's been in solid work on hills
and deep sand since the end of Feb. I usually ride 3 days a week 10-15 kms
(1hr) on steep hills and a little sand, and 1 day on the weekend 30-40kms
over either hills or deep sand, fast- approx. 2-2 1/2 hrs.I don't use a hr
monitor, but upon return of a 2 1/2 hr ride she's usually down to 43bpm after
10mins. I just completed 80kms of deep sand and some of this was hilly on a
very humid day-her first official ride in 2yrs. She went very well, but quite
slow-6 1/2hrs for 80kms. A lot of horses vetted out on HR and Resp's were
also very high. She completed with a HR of 55bpm, which is high for her-she
usually sits on around 45bpm after 80kms. She got mainly A's except for gut
sounds which were B at 40kms and C after 80kms and B for jugular refill.
Would this be due to the heat and course conditions? More conditioning
needed? She didn't eat much the night before or during the ride, and seemed
unusually quiet. I resorted to dosing her orally with electrolytes at
the 40km check and again at the last check, which I don't normally do, and I
also gave her Nuetradex to help with the lactic acid buildup. She didn't
drink a lot on the first leg, but drank quite a bit on the second leg,
although she wasn't sweating much. She was extremely tired but not stiff, and
although we had to ride at Novice pace, we placed 4th LW which was pleasing.
I didn't change her feed-she gets canola meal, lucerne, oaten chaff, muesli,
lupins, barley, oats, bran, mollasses, electrolytes, Minavit and oaten hay.
She was in season, having travelled with her training partner, a stallion,
and ridden together. Incidentally, he vetted out at 70bpm, was very tired and
sweating profusely, and has done a little less work than my mare. Do I need
to do more conditioning (our rides are about 1/2 a month) for the season, and
what can I do about the gut sounds? I'm thinking she'll probably eat more as
she settles into the whole ride atmosphere, as she normally scoffs it down!
Any suggestions would be appreciated as I want her to be happy and healthy.
Sorry this runs on a little! By the way, the ride was quite enjoyable and
well organised with a very tolerant Vet, but I am feeling sore and sorry for
myself today with muscles aching that I didn't know existed and regretting
taking up the suggestion of wearing a G-string for comfort-who said that!?
< grin>
Cheers and happy trails,:-)
Carol Willcocks and Pandora the tart (Do we have to do that again,
mum?)

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