ridecamp@endurance.net: Conditioning

Conditioning

Mike Sofen (miksof7@gte.net)
Sun, 21 Sep 1997 22:04:20 -0700

I'd like to revisit a well traveled subject. I scanned the archives and
saw where Tom Ivers and Susan Garlinghouse discussed certain aspects of
conditioning, especially relative to lactic acid and anaerobic work and
aerobic work.

However, a very real question still remained unanswered. For endurance
riding, does anaerobic conditioning increase the overall aerobic condition
of the horse? In his phenomenal book, The Fit Racehorse 2, Tom details
training regimens for track racehorses, including TBs doing daily 6 mile
gallops on OFF days, and an Australian woman getting her TB up to 20
galloping miles per day. These are strictly aerobic workouts, however.

We are lucky here in the Northwest, with excellent hills to climb for
resistance work and if I choose, I can push my horse into his anaerobic
zone on the longer and steeper hills. So the question is - is this an
effective strategy for a fit endurance horse that could be ready to move
to his next level?

Mike Sofen
Seattle, WA

Home Events Groups Rider Directory Market RideCamp Stuff