Re: 4 oz GL

[Tivers@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/8/00 2:43:28 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
sbrown@wamedes.com writes:

<< Brief bouts...what kind of time frames are you talking about? >

Depends on the intensity. 30 second to one minute bursts if you're talking 
about heartrates in excess of 180--190. Multiples of these with full recovery 
rest periods between--hills are the best approach here. Down in the 150 HR 
area, you can go for long stretches--maybe an hour at a time with a fit 
horse. In the 130s, hours and hours. In the 120s, all day. With a fit 
horse--kids don't try this at home! Everything has to be introduced gradually 
and zeroed in on the individual's current capabilities. If you always finish 
with horse left, then you always have room to do more next time. Watch the 
body weight--it will tell you a lot about how close you're getting to the 
edge of trouble. Bloodwork will come in handy, if you can afford it. 

 >I'm assuming
 that the bouts would start small and increase with time and condition...>

Actually, it's safer to start with longer slower works and sneak down to 
shorter, faster works. 


>at
 what point would you not consider extending the length of time?>

If you have one "intense" day and one long day per week, the length of your 
long day should determine the volume of your intense day. Essentially, you do 
what the horse is happy to do, and keep trying to move forward, very 
gradually.  

>  Also, I'm
 assuming here that the pulse rate at which you hit the anaerobic threshold
 increases with conditioning.>

Well, kind of. What you find it that it's hearder and hearder to make that 
pulse rate approach the levels of anaerobic threshold. But, yes, there will 
come a time when a 190 will not represent high lactate production. 

>..at what point would you not consider
 additional increase?>

Each week--a little. 

>  Would you use recovery time immediately afterward as
 your indicator?>



That certainly is a good way to stay out of trouble--but better information 
might come from body weight rebound, muscle enzyme activity, attitude, eating 
habits, bowel consistency--all the things you're already looking at, but now, 
charted as a recovery curve.

>  Is this significantly different than the fartlek style of
 conditioning?>

From intensity to LSD, the exercise types are: Sprints (maximal speed, long 
recoveries), repetitions (longer distances, slower speeds, extended 
recoveries), intervals (strong "pace" speeds, partial recoveries), fartlek 
(extended on and off works with semi-recoveries between bursts of 
speed--horse stays on gait throughout), LSD (long continuous distance, no 
recovery periods). All of these can be mixed together in a conditioning plan, 
depending on what your perception is of the horse's needs. On the LSD side of 
the seesaw you get endurnace but not much power or stamina. At the other end, 
you're heading toward firepower. In the middle is where all the good 
cardiovascular things happen.  
 
 Sue  >>

Tom