RE: riding just before a competition

[Trish Dutton <trishd@softthought.com>]

Brenda,

I have only been doing endurance for about 3 years, but this is my
normal routine.  The weekend before a ride, I do a 20-25 mile
conditioning ride, mostly at a trot.  Then on Wednesday evening, I do
about 1-2 hours of arena (dressage) work.  We travel on Friday (normally
2-8 hour drive) and after I set up camp, I try to ride for 30 minutes to
an hour - walk/some trot.  Saturday morning, I have to warm up my mare
more than most folks (she's very high strung) by doing tons and tons of
circles, figure eights, giving to the bit, etc.  So, in my opinion, you
should ride your horse moderately the week before a ride - if they are
pasture potatoes, you wouldn't notice those subtle hints that they maybe
shouldn't start the ride or they might be more prone to tying up.  Oh -
and I would probably add a slow 10 mile conditioning ride (or two) the
week before rather than the arena work, but since I work full time, I
really can't fit it in.

Trish and Zsa Zsa


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