Re: training/tranquilizers

[Penny McCauley <penny@zianet.com>]

I don't know about the tranqs., but as for the conditioning.....

In the book "Tips for the Long Distance Rider" by Sharon Schmidt, page 
105- If you can only ride on weekends, don't despair, during the week 
you can lunge your horse for twenty minutes or so (twice a week). I will 
trot my horse in both directions for 2.5 minutes each direction. Then I 
ask for and extended trot for 2.5 minutes each direction. Then an easy 
canter for 2.5 minutes each direction. Then a fairly fast canter for 2.5 
minutes both directions and finally a cool down easy trot for 2.5 
minutes both directions. That's a total of 20 minutes. Hand walk to cool 
down. Be sure to wrap legs well for a lunging session.

Page 116 gives an example of a schedule.
Weekend 1
Sat. ride 1-2 hours over fairly level terrain, mostly at a walk, 10 min. 
total trotting time.
Sun. Ride 1 1/2-2 hours at the same pace as Sat.'s ride.

Weekend 2
Sat. ride 1 1/2-2 hours over vaired terrain. Add a little more trotting.
Sun. ride 2-2 1/2 hours over easy terrain with a total of about 15 
minutes trotting on level.

Weekend 3
Same as W-2 but add more varied terrain and some hill climbing.

Weekend 4
Sat. ride 3 hours over varied terrain with some trotting up small 
inclines. Check P/R.
Sun. 2 1/2-3 hours over easier terrain.

Weekend 5 
Sat. ride 4-6 hours at a leisurely pace, trotting on level.
Sun. ride 2 hours or so with trotting on level ground. Check P/R after 
climbing a steep hill or after 3-5 minutes of strong trotting.

Each weekend add a little more difficult terrain, and look for 
inprovement in the time it takes the horse's P/R to come down to a 12/6.

In the book "America's Long Distance Challenge" by Karen Paulo on page 
55. It says, Don't condition daily; three or four days a week are 
sufficient. Muscles require 48 to 72 hours to heal and develop into 
stronger tissue. So vary the types of work during the week to stress 
different parts of your horse's body.

I don't know what type of terrain you ride in but if you can get into 
some sand or hills, I'd work the hard miles in that and use the level 
for warm ups and cool downs.

I hope this gives you some background on how to design your own program.
Penny (NM)