Endurance and Long Distance Equine Disciplines

Starting New Mounts

So, how many people on this discussion are actually starting a new mount? How old? How soon do you plan a competition? I've got a 6 year old rescue who I am just starting to walk a mile or so on trail with. Plan to do 50 by next April.

Tags: mount, new, starting

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Permalink Reply by Angie Mcghee on January 24, 2010 at 11:59am: Don't be intimidated. I would not hesitate to take any sound, reasonably (not even especially) fit horse 25 miles. If you actually do some conditioning, watch and listen 25 miles will be just a stepping stone to higher distances. :-)) Enjoy the sport. It's a hoot. I feel like we've found so many ways to do it *slightly* better that people are overwhelmed by all the info hitting them at once. You have a horse, you ride it, you figure out how to do it without pain for you or her, and ENJOY!!! :-D; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terri McCarthy on January 25, 2010 at 6:30am: I love your comment "you have a horse, you ride it, you figure out how to do it with pain for you or her" I think I am totally over analyzing everything. I read everything I can as it is winter and icy and am anxious to start training but worry that I won't do everything right. I guess if you use common sense...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terri McCarthy on January 25, 2010 at 6:30am: I meant without pain, LOL! I already know how to do it WITH pain!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terri McCarthy on January 27, 2010 at 2:10pm: Question on to use a bit or not bit. I put my TWH in training and the trainer basically road him in a rope halter. he did well but I had always had in a snaffel. He knows how to do a 1 rein stop, but is there a benefit in endurance to have a bit or not to have a bit?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kylie Godwin on February 2, 2010 at 7:04am: Hi All, I am a newbie to endurance and will be starting with a Standardbred (horse in my avatar). She is 4.5yrs and I put her under saddle about 6 months ago then turned her out. I am about to bring her back into work so would appreciate any advice, resources etc. Although I have been in the equine industry over 25yrs, I know very little about endurance conditioning (for me or my horse). This mare has been vetted sound and healthy with a low RHR, ample girth, great hooves and has a lovely, calm disposition. Game plans are welcome!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angie Mcghee on February 2, 2010 at 10:10am: Hey Kylie,
Can't give you the perfect training schedule, but I can tell you what I'm doing with my 6 year old that I put under saddle in Oct. Just start out with trail riding, as often as possible (that's 2 or 3 times at *best* since I've got a 50 miler in training too). Wouldn't mind 5 days a week (no more, probably more like 3 at best) if it was dry and we could just piddle and let him get used to dealing with my weight, navigating hills, etc. We trot on the flats, walk up and down hills. Practice stopping and starting. He recently did his first 18 mile trail ride which he handled well. We did quite a bit of trotting but walking too. No high heart rates. If the weather will give me a break I'll soon be riding him 17 or 18 miles on the weekends. He's learning to eat on the trail, drink, relax, load, meet strange horses, etc. He'll get several days off after the long ride. We're still doing the easy trail/learning rides during the week maybe starting to trot the hills more. Hopefully by late April or early May I'll enter him in a slow 50.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kylie Godwin on February 2, 2010 at 7:55pm: Thanks Angie, your reply was of great help!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terri McCarthy on February 4, 2010 at 11:55am: Is anyone using a heart monitor while training? It seems like a good idea as I will be focused on what I am doing, staying on, etc LOL . I am looking at the v-max enduro c as it seems to have a low and high heartbeat alarm and seems easy to use. Does anyone have any input:); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angie Mcghee on February 4, 2010 at 12:41pm: Are you just starting out? If so, it can be handy to know approximately what sort of heart rates you get at different speeds, etc. but definitely not necessary. The heart rate tells you how the heart & muscle conditioning is coming along and that's the *first* thing that gets fit. Bones are slowest, tendons & ligaments next. If you start seeing great heart rates it tempts you to go faster because the horse's heart is handling it well. Picture yourself as developing a jeep that can use a chain to drag a log out of the woods. The jeep is muscle, chain is ligaments, log is bone. If you get a great jeep but have a weak chain or rotten log you will fail. A heart monitor *can* tell you supposedly if a horse is hurting but I never caught a lameness using the heart monitor. I suggest you get a watch with a second hand. Learn what different speed trots feel like. Measure off a good stretch that's one mile long. a 10 min. mile =6mph. 8.5 min=7mph (considered perfect cavalry pace and a good endurance completion pace) 6 min. = 10mph (racing) 5 min. = 12 mph (winning); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terri McCarthy on February 4, 2010 at 12:51pm: Yes, I am just starting out. Thanks for the input. I will make note of the speed and the time, I know I have read this somewhere but at some point there is so much you can retain. We still have ice every where but maybe I will set markers out this weekend and get an idea of what a mile looks like.; ▶ Reply to This