 |
Re: [RC] French team and horse supplements - heidiPlease Reply to: Liz Henry liz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================Hi all, Just had a conversation with the coach/trainer of the French endurance team about horse supplements. He doesn't use ANY! When I pressed him specifically about e'lytes during a ride like at the WEC in Dubai, he said they didn't use any. His philosophy is that if the horse is properly conditioned and has access to the best hay and grain, he needs nothing else. He said that he experimented with supplements and if the temp was 100 with high humidity, then he would probably use e'lytes. If his results for the past several years didn't speak for themselves, I would be tempted to argue, but..... food for thoughts. Liz, this trainer makes a good point and I AGREE!! We are caught up in a "quick fix" culture, but there is NO supplement that substitutes for a horse that has the innate capability brought along with good, consistent training to bring him to his peak potential. I know I am a minority voice in this country, but as a ride vet, I feel that I have seen as many or more problems from improper use of electrolytes than from not enough electrolytes, and many cases that are chalked up to not enough electrolytes are REALLY inadequate preparation and/or poor ride strategy. So far with NO e'lytes our own small program has produced 8 PNER Top 25 placings, two PNER mileage champions, one AERC Top 25 points placement, one AERC Top 25 mileage placement, and three Jim Jones Top Ten placements. No great shakes compared to some, perhaps, but we've also not had the time or resources to campaign. I've twice won BC on hot, humid rides with NO e'lytes--in fact, my horses seem to do better relative to other horses when the conditions ARE bad, and I think it is due at least in part to the fact that they do NOT rely on outside supplementation. The French have done a good job of selecting horses that have the metabolic ability to do the job (far better than the US riders, IMO, who rely far too heavily on supplementation), and then they have worked their tails off to get those horses in top shape. And I think there is a lesson in that. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|