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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
  
Location: 31 lengths farms | I've always been anal about the amount of conditioning my horse has before I will make a run and now more so I guess because the two I have, have had significant injuries in their careers. I may take it a bit far in the type of conditioning I want to see on them before I am willing to make a run on them, guess I still approach things like I did as an elite gymnast. Even when mine are in good enough shape to run heading up to the 4th of July Pendleton race I step it up in the amount of breeze time and what I want to see in them as far as recovery time. I think they haul better as well as run.
I see so many posts it seems that say something about how their horse ran "middle of the XD, not bad for not having ridden her since XXXX" which can be as long as several months out. Just wondering if I am being completely paranoid about my horses conditioning and maybe actually over doing it? |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
 
| I am right there with you and I don't even ride at the level to run mine hard. One of mine had what should have been a career ending injury but he came back 100%. If mine get hurt again it certainly is not going to be because I did not do all I could to keep them healthy and that brings me peace of mind.
Hopefully that will save me some vet bills too. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | I think we get out of a horse what we are willing to put into them, whether it's training time, conditioning, feed program....every horse is different and we must recognize this...sometimes even with stars aligned right a horse won't be a 1D We don't know everyone's situation as to why a horse hasn't been ridden or whatever.... Honestly I worry about what I do and if I think something needs to be improved I research or ask around...I know where I want to be in competition!
ETA: above all horses are so forgiving, but I could NEVER pull my horse out of a pasture (having not being ridden or in shape) and except them to perform for me....
Edited by dream_chaser 2013-12-30 2:08 PM
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 Always Off Topic
Posts: 6382
Location: ND | some of this kinda makes me laugh.......if you warm them up, making a run or two or whatever is no big deal......heck, many times they take off racing around and bucking and what not in way more dangerous environment and ground conditions than an arena for longer than 20 seconds.....are they at there peak performance doing that..??? no way.......but they may not necessarily be far off..... as far as healthy horses go....which are most.... |
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | dhdqhllc - 2013-12-29 3:07 PM some of this kinda makes me laugh.......if you warm them up, making a run or two or whatever is no big deal......heck, many times they take off racing around and bucking and what not in way more dangerous environment and ground conditions than an arena for longer than 20 seconds.....are they at there peak performance doing that..??? no way.......but they may not necessarily be far off..... as far as healthy horses go....which are most.... It also makes me chuckle too...........I am with you on this one......mine do way more on their own in the pasture than with me on them........which I think keeps them in shape....ps.......and guess what they never warm up!! They bolt and RUN WIDE OPEN.......no warm up!!
I actually think sometimes we over exercise.............jmo
another ps..........if you think about it..........God made them more them to bolt and run.....no warm up required when bear lions tigers are wanting to have them for supper!
Edited by CJE 2013-12-30 2:18 PM
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Mine had 4 weeks off and then 2 rides since. Yesterday, he bucked the phone out of my pocket and stomped on it because he didn't want to WALK down the road. Just fresh and playing, but not sure I want to haul Mr I'm Too Fresh For My Warmup 3 hours to a barrel race. |
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Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | Three 4 Luck - 2013-12-29 3:18 PM Mine had 4 weeks off and then 2 rides since. Yesterday, he bucked the phone out of my pocket and stomped on it because he didn't want to WALK down the road. Just fresh and playing, but not sure I want to haul Mr I'm Too Fresh For My Warmup 3 hours to a barrel race.
I hauled my 2 fresh mares Saturday..........we did a lot of lunging to get that bolt and run out of them!! |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | CJE - 2013-12-30 2:16 PM dhdqhllc - 2013-12-29 3:07 PM some of this kinda makes me laugh.......if you warm them up, making a run or two or whatever is no big deal......heck, many times they take off racing around and bucking and what not in way more dangerous environment and ground conditions than an arena for longer than 20 seconds.....are they at there peak performance doing that..??? no way.......but they may not necessarily be far off..... as far as healthy horses go....which are most.... It also makes me chuckle too...........I am with you on this one......mine do way more on their own in the pasture than with me on them........which I think keeps them in shape....ps.......and guess what they never warm up!! They bolt and RUN WIDE OPEN.......no warm up!!
I actually think sometimes we over exercise.............jmo
another ps..........if you think about it..........God made them more them to bolt and run.....no warm up required when bear lions tigers are wanting to have them for supper!
I agree to a point, except I don't think we "over excercise" we might over tune???
In my neck of the woods, if I really want to go to a jackpot to save my sanity, I have been known to warm them up really good, run and then cool out really well. Do I expect to win........well maybe.
To the OP, I would love to have my horses in the condition you have yours in, if I put the standards on my horse and myself that you have, I would never go anywhere. But this is fun for me and knock on wood I have not had any serious injuries. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| My guys are out 24/7/365. I worry much more about them when I haul to big shows where they are stalled for a few days than I do if I pull them from their pasture to go to a day show without riding 3-5 times in the previous weeks.
Out in their pastures they don't stand still much. Move here, there, buck and twist and snort and fart around a lot, chase each other, play with their toys or sticks. At feed time it sometimes looks like I turned out a bucking string! They aren't 'conditioned' per se, but they stay stretched and flexible out there.
When they stand in a stall for 3 days they do feel different. They may be better conditioned going in to those big shows, but Xena's runs get rougher and rougher the more days she spends in a stall, and Zan's attitude noticeably changes to the negative. |
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  The Original Cyber Bartender
Location: Washington | I have and will never pull one out and go make a run on them.
Don't care what the discipline is, but as BHW teaches us, different strokes for different folks.  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: Great NW | In my mind the answer comes from: How competitive do I want to be? If you do not care - and breezing thru is fine with you then by all means - if they won't buck you off go right ahead. However, If I am on my good 1D horse I certainly will NOT even cruz thru a competition run without at least a month of workouts to get them in condition - both inside and out. I have way to much time and $ invested to just go out and burn their lungs out or sore them up cause they have been on vacation. What they do on their own time is nothing compared to what I ask of them in the arena. JMO. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I guess it depends. Just this week we rented the indoor arena and I roped about 10 calves on my horse. I rode him 2 days in a row prior to that, and before that, he was rode 3 weeks prior for a few days. I wouldn't hesitate to do that.....I might think again if we were headed to a jackpot and I didn't know how fast the calves were. Hell while we were in the indoor, I sent the new horse at a high lope around the barrel pattern and he was ridden less than my main horse. But again, that's practice and not a competition run. |
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 Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | If I haven't put the ride time in then I won't run. I don't fear as much hurting a horse as I feel it's not worth the investment of hauling down the road if I don't put the work into it first. I'm a firm believer that every horse has only so many good runs in them so I always want to make sure I have them as ready as possible. |
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 The best bad guy on the internet
Posts: 3519
Location: Arizona | I usually try to get my mare in top running condition before I enter a race. This means at least 6 days a week of exercising, lots of breezing etc....she has to be in top shape in order to make the kind of run I know she can make. Sure, I can pull her out of her pen when she hasn't been rode that much and go make a run, but we are not going to clock where I want to. It just depends on how competitive I want to be!! |
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 A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | I'm a weekend warrior. I try to get a least 2 rides in a week if I'm hauling. More if I have the time. But between hubby's schedule & my schedule, we don't always have the time to ride as much as we want.
I make sure he's warmed up good and cooled down right & knock on wood, we've been good so far.
To each their own. Some have the time to ride 5-6 times a week. Some just don't. And some horses NEED constant work. Others just need legged up. All depends on what your situation is. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| I think it depends on your situation and how often you run. I use to ride 5 days a week but now having a 2 year old daughter. I ride every other day to keep a balance with riding and being a mom...... That being said, I only compete once a month now instead of every weekend. |
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| What we ask them to do in the arena is more stressful, IMO, on their body than what they do in the pasture--not counting carrying the weight of a rider. I won't compete unless there has been some recent conditioning for them and myself. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I personally will not enter in a barrel race if I haven't been keeping my horse in shape. I pay enough money in vet bills the way it is; I don't want to put them at higher risk for an injury because they are not in good condition. Plus, I want to win back my entry fees (and maybe pay for gas) at a race, so I want to put my best foot forward.
Both my horses are chunky monkeys when they are not ridden regularly (like in the icy winter) and I just couldn't expect them to do that.
Although I do see and hear of people running unconditioned horses all the time. I won't do it. |
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 Dr. Ruth
Posts: 9891
Location: Blissfully happy Giants fan!!! | I won't pull a horse out of the pasture and just go make a run. I don't believe that is fair to them but I can appreciate the idea of them running hard core in the pasture with no warm up and being fine.
I have a horse in that we are trying to sell. He had a good 6 weeks of legging up before we put him through the pattern. Took him to a race on a short pen and let him go at his own pace (it was a disaster by the way and he really didn't have to work in the turns because of a horrid rider who thankfully was not me-lol). This last weekend I took him back out and again just let him pick his pace but he fired harder. We take extra care of him warming up and coming back down but he came down quick.
For the horses that have time off, we will leg up for about 4 weeks before we run again. One will get more time than that. Just because she was off for 2 months instead of one.
When they are in shape, the rule is they have to be worked at least 2 times that week or we don't go. Preferably 3-4 times that week. With my job sometimes that just doesn't happen. Last night I didn't come home until past 7 and I had started at 7 that morning. Those days happen and sometimes multiples in the week so two days of ride time may be all that is feasible. But if I know we are going to haul somewhere, I make it a point to get on them at least 2 times but more often than not 3 times that week. On 4 head of horses it is taking us almost 4 hours to get through the bunch. |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | I think it all depends on the horse, conditions they are in, and what they work best in.
My horses are all turned out, yet each has a different routine to get them working thier best. My mare run like dog poop if she is in stellar shape, but if she is in decent shape with a little pudge she run 10x better. I have figured out if I leave her up for 4 days prior to a big run she fires even harder.
Old man I keep a little pudgy so he doesn't run as hard with my daughter, but if i am running him he gets double the exercise to help those old joints and muscles stretch.
The calf horse fires harder if he is TUBBY and just in shape. If he is in stellar shape he looks around too much and won't settle down. Barrels are even a challenge on him when he feels good all he wants to do is go fast in every different way.
I have better luck with a horse in using shape than one is running shape. I feel those are 2 totally different categories. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: Southern OK aka God's Country | dhdqhllc - 2013-12-30 2:07 PM
some of this kinda makes me laugh.......if you warm them up, making a run or two or whatever is no big deal......heck, many times they take off racing around and bucking and what not in way more dangerous environment and ground conditions than an arena for longer than 20 seconds.....are they at there peak performance doing that..??? no way.......but they may not necessarily be far off..... as far as healthy horses go....which are most....
I'm with you--they do more in the pasture than the 15 (ok 17-18) seconds I put on him in the arena. I don't get to ride but on the weekends in the winter because it's dark when I go to work and dark when I get home. And I hate cold, and I'm not riding by headlamp and I don't have lights in my arena. My horse that I have now is not 1D, he will never be 1D (although we did run 1D one time with 17 entries, go us!!). He is solid enough now on the pattern to pull him out of the pasture in the winter, go make a run after a decent warm up, and be fine for what I need at this point. Maybe in a couple years when my prospects are up and going will I worry about conditioning in the winter and what-not, but for now, I'm perfectly satisfied being a weekend warrior and he is in good enough shape for that because he is alive and young and healthy (and somewhat overweight). |
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I Will Not Keep Silent
Posts: 1922
Location: GA | I hear this all the time like it is suppose to impress someone. Running around willy nilly in the pasture does not equate to being ran with weight on its back, harnessed under tack and modifying the horses natural way of going.
I did a prepurchase exam on a horse that was ran this way for years. He was a train wreck physically before his prime not to mention mentally.
Edited again to remove an offensive comment and clarify a statement.
Edited by *robin* 2013-12-31 9:38 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: Southern OK aka God's Country | *robin* - 2013-12-31 9:04 AM
I hear this all the time like it is suppose to impress someone. My thoughts are really and what kind of stupid are you? Running around willy nilly in the pasture does not equate to being ran with weight on its back, harnessed under tack and modifying the horses natural way of going.
I prepurchased a horse that was ran this way for years. He was a train wreck physically before his prime not to mention mentally.
Not agreeing with someone does not equate to them being "stupid." This kind of demeaning attitude is why there are so many threads that become so hateful so quickly. It is possible to politely disagree with point/counter-point. |
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 Another Barbossa
Posts: 2187
Location: Central Iowa, surrounded by corn! | There is a fine line between fit and fatigued! Some people don't seem to know the difference! Doesn't matter if a horse is race horse fit if you go and lope them for an hour, have them lathered, blowing, and do 10 warm-ups! Then wonder why they slow down running home in competition!  |
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Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | *robin* - 2013-12-31 9:04 AM I hear this all the time like it is suppose to impress someone. My thoughts are really and what kind of stupid are you? Running around willy nilly in the pasture does not equate to being ran with weight on its back, harnessed under tack and modifying the horses natural way of going. I prepurchased a horse that was ran this way for years. He was a train wreck physically before his prime not to mention mentally.
With as strong as your feelings are about the subject, why did you buy the "train wreck"?? The kind of statement you just made makes me  |
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I Will Not Keep Silent
Posts: 1922
Location: GA | SoonerLawyer - 2013-12-31 10:15 AM
*robin* - 2013-12-31 9:04 AM
I hear this all the time like it is suppose to impress someone. My thoughts are really and what kind of stupid are you? Running around willy nilly in the pasture does not equate to being ran with weight on its back, harnessed under tack and modifying the horses natural way of going.
I prepurchased a horse that was ran this way for years. He was a train wreck physically before his prime not to mention mentally.
Not agreeing with someone does not equate to them being "stupid." This kind of demeaning attitude is why there are so many threads that become so hateful so quickly. It is possible to politely disagree with point/counter-point.
You are correct. I will edit. |
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I Will Not Keep Silent
Posts: 1922
Location: GA | LMS - 2013-12-31 10:30 AM
*robin* - 2013-12-31 9:04 AM I hear this all the time like it is suppose to impress someone. My thoughts are really and what kind of stupid are you? Running around willy nilly in the pasture does not equate to being ran with weight on its back, harnessed under tack and modifying the horses natural way of going. I prepurchased a horse that was ran this way for years. He was a train wreck physically before his prime not to mention mentally.
With as strong as your feelings are about the subject, why did you buy the "train wreck"?? The kind of statement you just made makes me
I "pre" purchased the horse, I did not buy the horse. I also apologize for my demeaning comments.
Ok edit to get the misunderstanding. I did a prepurchase exam.
Edited by *robin* 2013-12-31 9:34 AM
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Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | *robin* - 2013-12-31 9:32 AM LMS - 2013-12-31 10:30 AM *robin* - 2013-12-31 9:04 AM I hear this all the time like it is suppose to impress someone. My thoughts are really and what kind of stupid are you? Running around willy nilly in the pasture does not equate to being ran with weight on its back, harnessed under tack and modifying the horses natural way of going. I prepurchased a horse that was ran this way for years. He was a train wreck physically before his prime not to mention mentally. With as strong as your feelings are about the subject, why did you buy the "train wreck"?? The kind of statement you just made makes me I "pre" purchased the horse, I did not buy the horse. I also apologize for my demeaning comments. Ok edit to get the misunderstanding. I did a prepurchase exam.
Thanks for the explanation, just seemed lopsided to me :) |
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I Will Not Keep Silent
Posts: 1922
Location: GA | LMS - 2013-12-31 10:41 AM
*robin* - 2013-12-31 9:32 AM LMS - 2013-12-31 10:30 AM *robin* - 2013-12-31 9:04 AM I hear this all the time like it is suppose to impress someone. My thoughts are really and what kind of stupid are you? Running around willy nilly in the pasture does not equate to being ran with weight on its back, harnessed under tack and modifying the horses natural way of going. I prepurchased a horse that was ran this way for years. He was a train wreck physically before his prime not to mention mentally. With as strong as your feelings are about the subject, why did you buy the "train wreck"?? The kind of statement you just made makes me I "pre" purchased the horse, I did not buy the horse. I also apologize for my demeaning comments. Ok edit to get the misunderstanding. I did a prepurchase exam.
No problem. I speak in short hand sometimes. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | fatchance - 2013-12-30 3:29 PM I have and will never pull one out and go make a run on them.
Don't care what the discipline is, but as BHW teaches us, different strokes for different folks.
Agree.. athletes need conditioning.. I considered my horses athletes.. they also have their downtime mentally .. Hacking out, swimming etc.. days off..but thats just me as well. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| I used to be super strict about that. However, now that I work a minimum 12.5 hour day of physical labor and have three kids and one more on the way, I'm happy to work my colt twice a week (only two so we don't do the pattern) and my older broke mare twice a week. I only haul locally very occasionally right now and when I do, I am realistic about it. No pushing to first, and just concentrating on making a clean run. Fast will come back when I have time for it. |
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 Sexy Bee Yacht
Posts: 5849
Location: WA | I am with you Nannette. If they aren't getting worked 3-4 days a week for at least 2 weeks prior to the race, I won't go. And this is assuming they were getting kept up with before that. If they aren't fit AND tuned, I don't want to waste my time and money going. I have a hard enough time getting out of the crack, that I don't want to hurt my chances any more than necessary. My husband doesn't get nearly the time to ride that I do, he can pull his gelding out of the pasture, warm him up really good to get the buck out of him, and be good to go for a day of gaming. Horse never gotten hurt from it. My way works for me, his way works for him. |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | Heres the deal, my little mare is/was fit and I was planning on going to a race today and tomorrow on her. I caretake for my mom who has dementia, the weekend before Christmas my fiancé and I took off for the weekend just to get some us time together so I didn't ride that weekend, got to ride Monday however, than rode Christmas day. That night my mom had a stroke and we spent the next 3 days in the hospital, obviously didn't ride. So basically my mare has been only ridden 2 times in the last week and a half. She is my mare that survived a serious stifle injury 3 years ago. I've already made the decision not to run but thank all of you for sharing your views.
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I refuse to run any of mine without having them in shape.....mine have been off since oct and I plan on having them ready to go for mid march so to me that means I better be on them jan 1st.......M |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I haven't read all the replies BUT I don't think you can override a horse. Tune too much and sour one, absolutely. Horses are built to travel at least 35 miles a day. Their bodies are also made to startle and run away wide open from stimuli without warming up.
They are not made to bury their butt in the ground and run 25 mph around a barrel. That's a human invention. It's hard on joints and ligaments and brains.
I crippled my good mare last fall. I did. I didn't condition her well enough and entered her on deep ground, then asked for her life. Boom, out with suspensory injury for 9 months. Go me!
Now everybody is ridden or ponied 1/2 mile warm up, 1 mile trot, 1 mile lope/gallop, 1 mile walk/cool out. Everyday. I ride in the dark a lot. At first, we all of us hated life. We just weren't legged up. Now it's routine, and the horses love getting to go out and play and cut up the whole way. I feel like the babysitter most days, and they meet me at the gate!! They see barrels once or twice a week for about 15 minutes on top of their regular work out.
You can't avoid injuries all the time, but I at least want to know that a horse in pain was NOT my fault!!! |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors. |
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Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: Southern OK aka God's Country | rachellyn80 - 2013-12-31 12:24 PM
If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors.
I struggle with this--how can I ask my horse to go on a diet and be fit when I can't even make myself?? So we are both a little pudgy and out of shape. What's good for the goose is good for the gelding, I always say :) |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 713
Location: PA | Haha, I'm scared to death to hurt them while riding and conditioning. As much as I would like to keep them in padded stall and pull them out in tip top shape I know it's not gonna happen. This last season my mare wasnt being 'ran' just hauled and cruising, but now this new season she is going to be conditioned more. My one gelding I was running was very lazy and hated work in general, so I thought letting him alone and then running him would help, but it doesnt. He couldnt work good being unable to hold his self correctly. So I guess I do agree with you, but I don't think I will get too crazy with my mares workouts.... Oh and on the subject of keeping themselves shaped up in pasture, it depends entirely on the horse. The gelding mentioned above is a fat plug on pasture but my mare who is always ripping and running (and scaring the crap out of me) never gets chunky on pasture and even stays pretty toned up but not to the extent on being running ready. |
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 I'm not opinionated
Posts: 4597
Location: Online | Years ago I thought I didn't have to ride every day and keep my horse in shape because he was out in the pasture 24/7. He could exercise himself and stay in great shape, right? Wrong. I laid him off for a couple of months when things slowed down one winter and decided to start to ride again to get the fresh off him for an upcoming rodeo. I got on him in the barn and just took off without a good warm up in the round pen and he spooked and scattered and pulled the muscles in his back. He was out of commission for 3 months. So to say they will stay in shape when turned out is not always true.
I always have mine in the best condition possible before I run them and ride them every day no less than 5 days a week. |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | rachellyn80 - 2014-01-01 11:24 AM
If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors.
I agree.....what I started to do is I jog the first 1/4 mile leading my horse and then I ride and I walk the last 1/4 mile leading......I have noticed a big differenceM |
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 Leggs
Posts: 4680
Location: lexington KY | fatchance - 2013-12-30 3:29 PM I have and will never pull one out and go make a run on them.
Don't care what the discipline is, but as BHW teaches us, different strokes for different folks.
I agree 100%! When people say "oh I just pulled him out of the field and made a run", I just shake my head. In my opinion that is nothing to be proud of. |
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Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: Great NW | classicpotatochip - 2013-12-31 10:17 AM I haven't read all the replies BUT I don't think you can override a horse. Tune too much and sour one, absolutely. Horses are built to travel at least 35 miles a day. Their bodies are also made to startle and run away wide open from stimuli without warming up. They are not made to bury their butt in the ground and run 25 mph around a barrel. That's a human invention. It's hard on joints and ligaments and brains. I crippled my good mare last fall. I did. I didn't condition her well enough and entered her on deep ground, then asked for her life. Boom, out with suspensory injury for 9 months. Go me! Now everybody is ridden or ponied 1/2 mile warm up, 1 mile trot, 1 mile lope/gallop, 1 mile walk/cool out. Everyday. I ride in the dark a lot. At first, we all of us hated life. We just weren't legged up. Now it's routine, and the horses love getting to go out and play and cut up the whole way. I feel like the babysitter most days, and they meet me at the gate!! They see barrels once or twice a week for about 15 minutes on top of their regular work out. You can't avoid injuries all the time, but I at least want to know that a horse in pain was NOT my fault!!!
KUDOS to you. We ride with head lamps many days during the winter. When it has really rained and we can not haul out - we just trot up on down the gravel driveway |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | rachellyn80 - 2013-12-31 1:24 PM If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors. I ride warmbloods so we have to work them and keep them conditioned or they fall to pieces.. therefore if we ourselves dont stay fit we do as well.
I had to take off a month and went back and was out of breath trying to work them after 20 minutes.. having 3-8 a day it could get quite difficult if we didnt stay fit and in shape.. so yes I do feel its a good thing to stay fit outselves.. Im not condoning those that dont .. just stating what works for me and yes I do have the time. it was fulltime for me so much easier to do..I feel the horses could feel the same at times..
spell check.
Edited by Bibliafarm 2013-12-31 12:44 PM
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Always Off Topic
Posts: 6382
Location: ND | rachellyn80 - 2013-12-31 12:24 PM If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors.
now this applies waaaayyyy more than the horse being in shape...... |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | LOL! I have run Pendleton on foot and it SUCKS!!!! I was sucking air by the 2nd barrel and wishing for oxygen half way to the 3rd. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | run n rate - 2013-12-31 2:14 PM LOL! I have run Pendleton on foot and it SUCKS!!!! I was sucking air by the 2nd barrel and wishing for oxygen half way to the 3rd.
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | run n rate - 2013-12-31 1:14 PM LOL! I have run Pendleton on foot and it SUCKS!!!! I was sucking air by the 2nd barrel and wishing for oxygen half way to the 3rd.
Holy Smokes! Can I ask what in the world would make you do that???  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 557
Location: Kansas and loving it | dhdqhllc - 2013-12-31 12:48 PM
rachellyn80 - 2013-12-31 12:24 PM If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors.
now this applies waaaayyyy more than the horse being in shape......
So if you are fat, you shouldn't be allowed to barrel race? |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | rockette - 2013-12-31 8:03 PM dhdqhllc - 2013-12-31 12:48 PM rachellyn80 - 2013-12-31 12:24 PM If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors. now this applies waaaayyyy more than the horse being in shape...... So if you are fat, you shouldn't be allowed to barrel race?
I'm sure that's not what was being implied here Rockette. I know ladies that aren't skinny minny's but dang them women are in shape! For myself, I've always been a runt until the past few years and I let myself go. I watched videos of myself and looked at the pictures taken at runs and I looked out of balance (which I was) and constantly behind my horse. I made a choice. I bought myself a horse that if I didn't ride her well I'd fall off and I'm not kidding you when I say that. I did workouts and lost 30 pounds but it was my decision for my health and to be a better rider. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 557
Location: Kansas and loving it | CYA Ranch - 2013-12-31 8:09 PM
rockette - 2013-12-31 8:03 PM dhdqhllc - 2013-12-31 12:48 PM rachellyn80 - 2013-12-31 12:24 PM If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors. now this applies waaaayyyy more than the horse being in shape...... So if you are fat, you shouldn't be allowed to barrel race?
That is great, I have nothing against those ladies and gentlemen who are disciplined and work to stay fit. I am working on my eating issues and have two jobs right now. I am sending my horse off this January to be legged up. Hopefully my second job ends in February when she comes back. I do my best to lose weight, I also try to go to clinics once a year to try to get better. I know that even if I weighed 100 lbs I will never be a top rider. I just don't have the talent. But I don't think it will do me anything good if I don't compete until I am fit. I don't whip and spur, I enjoy barrel racing for the love of it. I don't think I am hurting my horse by competing while trying to improve my health. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | rockette - 2013-12-31 9:03 PM dhdqhllc - 2013-12-31 12:48 PM rachellyn80 - 2013-12-31 12:24 PM If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors. now this applies waaaayyyy more than the horse being in shape...... So if you are fat, you shouldn't be allowed to barrel race?
she is not implying THAT at all.
Edited by Bibliafarm 2013-12-31 9:03 PM
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | I recently read a scientific article on this very thing. It was either off the The Horse or it may have been Brandenburg that posted it from somewhere else.
Anyhow, the gyst of the article was that the studies indicated that there was actually no difference at all between a horse that is kept in an open social environment and a horse that's ridden 20-30 minutes a day of regular walk/jog/lope 3-4 times a week.
Granted they're not talking turnout -vs- hard core barrel training. They're talking about just medium type work.
At the old place where everyone was up every night, they ran laps racing each other 5-10 minutes when they were first turned out. That's no different than me lungeing them 7 days a week and most of the time, they breathed a lot harder than if I had lunged them because they were running harder.
Now that most are out all the time, they don't run as hard as much but they still run a little every day and they're moving up and down the slopes during the hours they used to be up.
If I've riden a time or two during the week before a run, I'll haul to a show and run but I just kind of cruise through and don't push, and I don't over do it on my warm up either. And he's not that out of breath after a run like that so that tells me he's not in that bad of shape either.
I will haul one to an open pleasure type show or go sort on one straight out of the pasture if I know they're not going to be too fresh. Again, they're in shape enough to handle some light work and I don't push it hard.
If I hadn't spent several weeks legging one up, I wouldn't ask my horse for everything he's got or expect to be knocking on 1D. That would be like asking me to run a marathon and I can barely jog a mile. But if I can jog a mile, maybe I can run down the driveway and back -- why keep me from running down the driveway if I can go that far?
For me, a lot of it comes down to common sense, what their weight is, and just knowing what kind of condition they're in and I think too the history of the horse and their conformation plays into it too. Some horses you can physically push, others you just can't. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Oh, and to be fair, I have entered myself in races - where I am the one who does the running - without properly conditioning myself first. Haha!
I can tell you, if you aren't going to leg your horse up before you compete you should A) not expect top level performance and B) be ready to walk, well-water, liniment, and give some sore muscle and joint relief in the days following. |
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Veteran
Posts: 159
Location: Central TX | I see often at jackpots a girl or 2 will pull their horses out of the trailers, saddle, and then make a run...No warm up WHATSOEVER. I once had only about 2 minutes to warm up and did about 3 laps of trot and made a run and i felt terrible for my mare...and now im anal about having enough time to get my horses lungs expanded and ready! |
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 Ms. Manners
Posts: 1820
Location: Oklahoma | I'm surprised at the number of folks stating that legging up and getting a horse in shape is a matter of 6 weeks or a few months. You will see improvement in the large muscles and cardiovascular system in that time but it takes at least 6 to 12 months for support tissues (tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, hoof tissues) to have a strengthening response to conditioning, and a minimum of 1 to 2 years for bone tissue to strengthen in response to exercise-induced stress. These time tables have been demonstarted again and again. I use it for planning conditioning of endurance horses, but the part that comes into play the most for barrel racers is the time table for support tissues to gain in strength - especially when you consider how many injuries involve support tissues. And the majority of endurance horses are only ridden two to three times a week - even less at the higher levels due to the systemic conditioning already present and time off betweem competitions for recovery.
I am a firm believer that the more time invested in conditioning, the more time gets added to the career. |
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Ms. Manners
Posts: 1820
Location: Oklahoma | Fairweather - 2013-12-31 9:08 PM I recently read a scientific article on this very thing. It was either off the The Horse or it may have been Brandenburg that posted it from somewhere else.
Anyhow, the gyst of the article was that the studies indicated that there was actually no difference at all between a horse that is kept in an open social environment and a horse that's ridden 20-30 minutes a day of regular walk/jog/lope 3-4 times a week.
Granted they're not talking turnout -vs- hard core barrel training. They're talking about just medium type work.
At the old place where everyone was up every night, they ran laps racing each other 5-10 minutes when they were first turned out. That's no different than me lungeing them 7 days a week and most of the time, they breathed a lot harder than if I had lunged them because they were running harder.
Now that most are out all the time, they don't run as hard as much but they still run a little every day and they're moving up and down the slopes during the hours they used to be up.
If I've riden a time or two during the week before a run, I'll haul to a show and run but I just kind of cruise through and don't push, and I don't over do it on my warm up either. And he's not that out of breath after a run like that so that tells me he's not in that bad of shape either.
I will haul one to an open pleasure type show or go sort on one straight out of the pasture if I know they're not going to be too fresh. Again, they're in shape enough to handle some light work and I don't push it hard.
If I hadn't spent several weeks legging one up, I wouldn't ask my horse for everything he's got or expect to be knocking on 1D. That would be like asking me to run a marathon and I can barely jog a mile. But if I can jog a mile, maybe I can run down the driveway and back -- why keep me from running down the driveway if I can go that far?
For me, a lot of it comes down to common sense, what their weight is, and just knowing what kind of condition they're in and I think too the history of the horse and their conformation plays into it too. Some horses you can physically push, others you just can't. The article . . . http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32630/study-horses-able-to-stay-fit-when-kept-at-pasture
Not to nit-pick, but the article did not conclude there is no difference between a pasture kept horse and one ridden 20 - 30 mins a few times a week. This study looked at differences in how the horses who were at similar levels of fitness then placed in different management situations maintained their condition level over a few month period.
The horses were already fit, and it was a matter of determining whether pastured horses (on 100 acres - not parked at a roundbale in pasture) could maintain fitness along with the exercised horses. Having a few weeks or month off will not affect an already "fit" horse's conditioning level if it is out at pasture. Note, too, that the pasture horses received no grain and were on 100 acres 24/7. When looking at a study, it is not just about the conclusion that was drawn by researchers but what was done and how they reached those conclusions.
Edited by Morab76 2014-01-01 12:22 AM
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 Wide Darn Open
Posts: 2141
| I would rather pull a horse out of the pasture and make a run than make a run on one stalled but exercised x amount of time per day. I have always felt sorry for horses kept in stalls just so they stay slick and clean. I know its necessary sometimes but i wouldnt want to do it long term. I think muscle, bone, and tendon stay much stronger turned out. My vet told me the worst thing I could do for my old mare was stall her. She stays out and at 26 years old they have yet to bring a horse on the place to outrun her. They have hills and lots of room and I think it helps her to not get stiff. I love watching them out there running like maniacs for no apparent reason  |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | rockette - 2013-12-31 8:03 PM dhdqhllc - 2013-12-31 12:48 PM rachellyn80 - 2013-12-31 12:24 PM If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors. now this applies waaaayyyy more than the horse being in shape...... So if you are fat, you shouldn't be allowed to barrel race?
You can be heavy and fit, just like a horse can. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | rockette - 2013-12-31 8:33 PM CYA Ranch - 2013-12-31 8:09 PM rockette - 2013-12-31 8:03 PM dhdqhllc - 2013-12-31 12:48 PM rachellyn80 - 2013-12-31 12:24 PM If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors. now this applies waaaayyyy more than the horse being in shape...... So if you are fat, you shouldn't be allowed to barrel race? That is great, I have nothing against those ladies and gentlemen who are disciplined and work to stay fit. I am working on my eating issues and have two jobs right now. I am sending my horse off this January to be legged up. Hopefully my second job ends in February when she comes back. I do my best to lose weight, I also try to go to clinics once a year to try to get better. I know that even if I weighed 100 lbs I will never be a top rider. I just don't have the talent. But I don't think it will do me anything good if I don't compete until I am fit. I don't whip and spur, I enjoy barrel racing for the love of it. I don't think I am hurting my horse by competing while trying to improve my health.
It sounds like your having fun and that's the best thing in the world! Heck when I go to barrel races I spend most of my time visiting. Especially when we all get back to running after the long winter hibernation then its a huge Gab Fest! |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Morab76 - 2013-12-31 11:55 PM I'm surprised at the number of folks stating that legging up and getting a horse in shape is a matter of 6 weeks or a few months. You will see improvement in the large muscles and cardiovascular system in that time but it takes at least 6 to 12 months for support tissues (tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, hoof tissues) to have a strengthening response to conditioning, and a minimum of 1 to 2 years for bone tissue to strengthen in response to exercise-induced stress. These time tables have been demonstarted again and again. I use it for planning conditioning of endurance horses, but the part that comes into play the most for barrel racers is the time table for support tissues to gain in strength - especially when you consider how many injuries involve support tissues. And the majority of endurance horses are only ridden two to three times a week - even less at the higher levels due to the systemic conditioning already present and time off betweem competitions for recovery.
I am a firm believer that the more time invested in conditioning, the more time gets added to the career.
So what do you suggest for those like myself that live in the frozen tundra and chose to give my horses a few months off during the winter. Are you saying it would take me 6 months to get my horse back in shape? Basically I'd have them ready for another winter rest. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Morab76 - 2013-12-31 11:55 PM
I'm surprised at the number of folks stating that legging up and getting a horse in shape is a matter of 6 weeks or a few months. You will see improvement in the large muscles and cardiovascular system in that time but it takes at least 6 to 12 months for support tissues (tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, hoof tissues) to have a strengthening response to conditioning, and a minimum of 1 to 2 years for bone tissue to strengthen in response to exercise-induced stress. These time tables have been demonstarted again and again. I use it for planning conditioning of endurance horses, but the part that comes into play the most for barrel racers is the time table for support tissues to gain in strength - especially when you consider how many injuries involve support tissues. And the majority of endurance horses are only ridden two to three times a week - even less at the higher levels due to the systemic conditioning already present and time off betweem competitions for recovery.
I am a firm believer that the more time invested in conditioning, the more time gets added to the career.
My vet disagrees with you, he says 3 months of conditioning 2 miles of riding 5 days a week 2 days off is what a barrel horse should have, this is even horses coming back from broken bones, torn tendons, etc. He also says a horse should have 3 consecutive months off to allow muscles and ligaments time to regenerate and heal.
My analogy is horses are like a car, if you keep driving it, the wear and test will eventually mile it out and the car will be broken. This is why miles out cars are cheap.
I know that many pro barrel racers have said a barrel horse only have so many runs in them, so choose wisely. |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | CYA Ranch - 2014-01-01 9:14 AM
Morab76 - 2013-12-31 11:55 PM I'm surprised at the number of folks stating that legging up and getting a horse in shape is a matter of 6 weeks or a few months. You will see improvement in the large muscles and cardiovascular system in that time but it takes at least 6 to 12 months for support tissues (tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, hoof tissues) to have a strengthening response to conditioning, and a minimum of 1 to 2 years for bone tissue to strengthen in response to exercise-induced stress. These time tables have been demonstarted again and again. I use it for planning conditioning of endurance horses, but the part that comes into play the most for barrel racers is the time table for support tissues to gain in strength - especially when you consider how many injuries involve support tissues. And the majority of endurance horses are only ridden two to three times a week - even less at the higher levels due to the systemic conditioning already present and time off betweem competitions for recovery.
I am a firm believer that the more time invested in conditioning, the more time gets added to the career.
So what do you suggest for those like myself that live in the frozen tundra and chose to give my horses a few months off during the winter. Are you saying it would take me 6 months to get my horse back in shape? Basically I'd have them ready for another winter rest.
Was wondering about this as well. So is this break during the winter hindering them? |
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 Love Me Some Robert Redford
Posts: 2335
Location: WV | I am a beginner and no expert at all but here is my thought on this. My mare was off for a summer and I could not ride the following spring because of my back. She had been trail ridden during that time she had off from barrels. I had taken her to a friends place and they wanted to take her threw the barrels. She warmed her up and I agreed that she could do this but told her to take it easy because she was not legged up enough. My mare had no issue with this and done really well. That being said there was another horse there she was doing the same thing with and he was not tolerating it as well and probably had more riding time on him than my mare. I think it depends on the horse and your person preferences. I am sure there are exceptions out there that someone could pull a horse out of pasture and go win and those that might not. I would want mine to be in the shape they needed to be in if I was asking them to work for me at the top of their game. It made me feel bad to ask her to run threw when she wasn't in shape for it. Also, I have been threw the pattern while I was with my daughter doing pee wee and it was a slow trot and it takes some wind. By the third barrel I was wishing I was in better shape. I found out that day I did not have the stamina to trot threw either. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | hammer_time - 2014-01-01 12:10 PM CYA Ranch - 2014-01-01 9:14 AM Morab76 - 2013-12-31 11:55 PM I'm surprised at the number of folks stating that legging up and getting a horse in shape is a matter of 6 weeks or a few months. You will see improvement in the large muscles and cardiovascular system in that time but it takes at least 6 to 12 months for support tissues (tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, hoof tissues) to have a strengthening response to conditioning, and a minimum of 1 to 2 years for bone tissue to strengthen in response to exercise-induced stress. These time tables have been demonstarted again and again. I use it for planning conditioning of endurance horses, but the part that comes into play the most for barrel racers is the time table for support tissues to gain in strength - especially when you consider how many injuries involve support tissues. And the majority of endurance horses are only ridden two to three times a week - even less at the higher levels due to the systemic conditioning already present and time off betweem competitions for recovery.
I am a firm believer that the more time invested in conditioning, the more time gets added to the career. So what do you suggest for those like myself that live in the frozen tundra and chose to give my horses a few months off during the winter. Are you saying it would take me 6 months to get my horse back in shape? Basically I'd have them ready for another winter rest. Was wondering about this as well. So is this break during the winter hindering them?
If its hindering me then so be it, is my thought. I think its important to the horse's mind and body to have the time off. Heck its important to my mind and body! LOL
Years ago I'd haul a few times a week to an indoor in town. Its miserable loading, unloading, saddling, unsaddling. I stayed riding this year until first week in December then it got freakishly cold and cruddy. I need to have 3 horses ready for Lincoln mid April. Not sure exactly when I'll need to start getting them ready for that. I will say mine are out in pastures. My mare runs, bucks and plays a number of times per day. My 2 geldings......they're another story. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| CYA Ranch - 2014-01-01 1:02 PM hammer_time - 2014-01-01 12:10 PM CYA Ranch - 2014-01-01 9:14 AM Morab76 - 2013-12-31 11:55 PM I'm surprised at the number of folks stating that legging up and getting a horse in shape is a matter of 6 weeks or a few months. You will see improvement in the large muscles and cardiovascular system in that time but it takes at least 6 to 12 months for support tissues (tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, hoof tissues) to have a strengthening response to conditioning, and a minimum of 1 to 2 years for bone tissue to strengthen in response to exercise-induced stress. These time tables have been demonstarted again and again. I use it for planning conditioning of endurance horses, but the part that comes into play the most for barrel racers is the time table for support tissues to gain in strength - especially when you consider how many injuries involve support tissues. And the majority of endurance horses are only ridden two to three times a week - even less at the higher levels due to the systemic conditioning already present and time off betweem competitions for recovery.
I am a firm believer that the more time invested in conditioning, the more time gets added to the career. So what do you suggest for those like myself that live in the frozen tundra and chose to give my horses a few months off during the winter. Are you saying it would take me 6 months to get my horse back in shape? Basically I'd have them ready for another winter rest. Was wondering about this as well. So is this break during the winter hindering them?
Years ago I'd haul a few times a week to an indoor in town. Its miserable loading, unloading, saddling, unsaddling. I stayed riding this year until first week in December then it got freakishly cold and cruddy. I need to have 3 horses ready for Lincoln mid April. Not sure exactly when I'll need to start getting them ready for that. I will say mine are out in pastures. My mare runs, bucks and plays a number of times per day. My 2 geldings......they're another story.
As far as taking 6 months to a year to leg back up, when my gelding was out for a year with a torn suspensory, he was in a stall for 2 months with a few minutes of daily, hand walking This progressed to turn out on 10 acres at 4 months and 20 minutes of walking and trotting. At 9 months I got the go ahead to leg him back up and vet gave me a 3 month program of walk 10 minutes, trot 15, lope 15, trot 15 and walk to cool down- 5 times a week. He had lost a lot of his muscle tone. He said in 3 months he will be good to go and that keeping him legged up and a proper warm up before a run
(lots of walking and trotting) were key to him not tearing the suspensory again.
Edited by rodeomom3 2014-01-01 1:15 PM
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | to bring one back from injury yes it does take that long...I completely agree with RM..
to bring one back from rest I believe can be done in shorter time frame.. I worry about their heart and lungs .. I see so many posts about .. soreness and lameness and issues.. if you pull a horse out of pasture and start drilling on them or running you will get that.. just as a athlete would .. I wouldnt say it would take a year to leg one up from Just sitting and rest.. I would however say 2 months of steady training would be in the favor of the horse..and its mind and body..least 3 times a week....This is a healthy horse.. not rehabbing..I think some feel its ok to pasture a horse then grab him for a 3 day weekend of races after being idle for 6 months... well my opinion is its not good.. if you arent a runner sprinter marathoner then one day .. go to a sprint or 5 k.. how do you feel? how does your muscles feel? do you tye up? hows your lungs? cold weather they burn I bet to.can you do it SURE.. is it good for your body.. no..just my opinion. we all have differant ways though i understand that. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Bibliafarm - 2014-01-01 1:24 PM to bring one back from injury yes it does take that long...I completely agree with RM..
to bring one back from rest I believe can be done in shorter time frame.. I worry about their heart and lungs .. I see so many posts about .. soreness and lameness and issues.. if you pull a horse out of pasture and start drilling on them or running you will get that.. just as a athlete would .. I wouldnt say it would take a year to leg one up from Just sitting and rest.. I would however say 2 months of steady training would be in the favor of the horse..and its mind and body..least 3 times a week....This is a healthy horse.. not rehabbing..I think some feel its ok to pasture a horse then grab him for a 3 day weekend of races after being idle for 6 months... well my opinion is its not good.. if you arent a runner sprinter marathoner then one day .. go to a sprint or 5 k.. how do you feel? how does your muscles feel? do you tye up? hows your lungs? cold weather they burn I bet to.can you do it SURE.. is it good for your body.. no..just my opinion. we all have differant ways though i understand that.
Biblia, I so agree. I don't know if it is an apples to apples comparison, but I know how it effects me when I can't get to the gym. I test in the excellent range when I do a fitness cardio test. When I miss a week or more at the gym because of vacation I sure can tell a difference. It does not take me long to get back where I was, but it is amazing how just 7-10 days causes me to lose cardio. The rest is good for me but I pay for it. I can't imagine what it would feel like with no routine exercise and then being asked to work out at the level I do. |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | AsCYA Ranch - 2014-01-01 5:09 PM
run n rate - 2013-12-31 1:14 PM LOL! I have run Pendleton on foot and it SUCKS!!!! I was sucking air by the 2nd barrel and wishing for oxygen half way to the 3rd.
Holy Smokes! Can I ask what in the world would make you do that???
I had dreamed of running at Pendleton since I was 9 years old. There was an Ed clinic hosted by the Rice's in Pendleton, thought that would be cool, so when it ended up that we kept the horses on the grounds I was in heaven! Kept walking to the locked gates and looking out there. After the Friday clinic we went and had a few too many margaritas apparently. The next morning it started raining, they decided to do the clinic in the small indoor pen at the round up grounds. I got a wild hair, grabbed the pop up barrels out of the trailer, my hauling buddy was like WTH are you doing??? I'm gonna go run Pendleton I tell her:-) I hopped the gates, went out set up the barrels as close to what I had seen on TV and ran Pendleton on foot at 6am in the rain with a hangover. Somewhere I have a picture of me bent over sucking air, don't think I technically had crossed the timer, I'm flipping my haul buddy off in it because she was yelling "hustle!!!" Lmao!!! I had to go lay down in the truck for about an hour afterwards.
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 Veteran
Posts: 268
| People running their out-of-shape horses is one of my major pet peeves! I feel so badly for the horses. I would never do that. I take a lot of time getting my horses legged up - and keeping them there |
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Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | Running Pendleton on foot made me twice as crazy about conditioning for both myself and my horses. I remember thinking leaving the 3rd " and this is where the crazy b$tch picks up the over and under..." Or I would have thought that had I enough oxygen to my brain to form a thought.
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | run n rate - 2014-01-01 1:50 PM AsCYA Ranch - 2014-01-01 5:09 PM run n rate - 2013-12-31 1:14 PM LOL! I have run Pendleton on foot and it SUCKS!!!! I was sucking air by the 2nd barrel and wishing for oxygen half way to the 3rd. Holy Smokes! Can I ask what in the world would make you do that??? I had dreamed of running at Pendleton since I was 9 years old. There was an Ed clinic hosted by the Rice's in Pendleton, thought that would be cool, so when it ended up that we kept the horses on the grounds I was in heaven! Kept walking to the locked gates and looking out there. After the Friday clinic we went and had a few too many margaritas apparently. The next morning it started raining, they decided to do the clinic in the small indoor pen at the round up grounds. I got a wild hair, grabbed the pop up barrels out of the trailer, my hauling buddy was like WTH are you doing??? I'm gonna go run Pendleton I tell her:- ) I hopped the gates, went out set up the barrels as close to what I had seen on TV and ran Pendleton on foot at 6am in the rain with a hangover. Somewhere I have a picture of me bent over sucking air, don't think I technically had crossed the timer, I'm flipping my haul buddy off in it because she was yelling "hustle!!!" Lmao!!! I had to go lay down in the truck for about an hour afterwards.
Oh Lord that's the best story ever.  |
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Ms. Manners
Posts: 1820
Location: Oklahoma | CYA Ranch - 2014-01-01 11:14 AM Morab76 - 2013-12-31 11:55 PM I'm surprised at the number of folks stating that legging up and getting a horse in shape is a matter of 6 weeks or a few months. You will see improvement in the large muscles and cardiovascular system in that time but it takes at least 6 to 12 months for support tissues (tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, hoof tissues) to have a strengthening response to conditioning, and a minimum of 1 to 2 years for bone tissue to strengthen in response to exercise-induced stress. These time tables have been demonstarted again and again. I use it for planning conditioning of endurance horses, but the part that comes into play the most for barrel racers is the time table for support tissues to gain in strength - especially when you consider how many injuries involve support tissues. And the majority of endurance horses are only ridden two to three times a week - even less at the higher levels due to the systemic conditioning already present and time off betweem competitions for recovery.
I am a firm believer that the more time invested in conditioning, the more time gets added to the career. So what do you suggest for those like myself that live in the frozen tundra and chose to give my horses a few months off during the winter. Are you saying it would take me 6 months to get my horse back in shape? Basically I'd have them ready for another winter rest.
I am just speaking from endurance experience, but many have that same issue you do. If your horse is in great shape when winter hits, then ride when weather permits through the off season. Once a horse's support structures and bones had gained strength and adjusted to the demands of training and competition, they retain that "memory" far longer than a huan body does. Once temps go up and more consistent conditioning and prep for competition begins, your horse will be back at the high level of conditionin he was at when winter halted consistent riding. Bouncing back after a 4 to 6 month break would take 6 weeks or less.
The timelin for conditioning the different structures is for horse starting from ground zero in terms of conditioning. Many, many serious competitiors take beaks of several months due to weather and a host of other reasons . . . . best thing for the horse is to be out at pasture so he can be brought back to competition shape more efficiently.
When it comes down to it, it is really about knowing your individual horse and what works best for your horse and your expectations. I would be a fool to think all horses respond the same way to exercise and nutrition.
Best indication of fitness is recovery. Know your horse's resting pulse and resps. Keep track of how the horse recovers after a run or training session . . . slower recovery times coul ean one needs to take another look at their conditioning program. |
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Sexy Bee Yacht
Posts: 5849
Location: WA | rachellyn80 - 2013-12-31 10:24 AM If you're being absolutely honest....How many of you get yourselves fit before asking your horse to haul you around the pattern?
Someone very close to me is the worst about exaggerating how long they are actually exercising their horse...and it's evident when that person couldn't last that long in the saddle to work a horse that long. If you're not fit you aren't doing your horse any favors.
I do. I am very lucky to be a stay at home mom who can go to the gym. I ride 10x better when I am fit and strong. When I get too fluffy, I can't help my horse as much. We run somewhere in the 2D so we aren't the slowest ones out there. We obviously are not the fastest either.
You bring up a very legit point! |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Morab76 - 2014-01-01 9:33 PM CYA Ranch - 2014-01-01 11:14 AM Morab76 - 2013-12-31 11:55 PM I'm surprised at the number of folks stating that legging up and getting a horse in shape is a matter of 6 weeks or a few months. You will see improvement in the large muscles and cardiovascular system in that time but it takes at least 6 to 12 months for support tissues (tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, hoof tissues) to have a strengthening response to conditioning, and a minimum of 1 to 2 years for bone tissue to strengthen in response to exercise-induced stress. These time tables have been demonstarted again and again. I use it for planning conditioning of endurance horses, but the part that comes into play the most for barrel racers is the time table for support tissues to gain in strength - especially when you consider how many injuries involve support tissues. And the majority of endurance horses are only ridden two to three times a week - even less at the higher levels due to the systemic conditioning already present and time off betweem competitions for recovery.
I am a firm believer that the more time invested in conditioning, the more time gets added to the career. So what do you suggest for those like myself that live in the frozen tundra and chose to give my horses a few months off during the winter. Are you saying it would take me 6 months to get my horse back in shape? Basically I'd have them ready for another winter rest.
The timelin for conditioning the different structures is for horse starting from ground zero in terms of conditioning. Many, many serious competitiors take beaks of several months due to weather and a host of other reasons . . . . best thing for the horse is to be out at pasture so he can be brought back to competition shape more efficiently.
When it comes down to it, it is really about knowing your individual horse and what works best for your horse and your expectations. I would be a fool to think all horses respond the same way to exercise and nutrition.
Best indication of fitness is recovery. Know your horse's resting pulse and resps. Keep track of how the horse recovers after a run or training session . . . slower recovery times coul ean one needs to take another look at their conditioning program.
Thank you. One of my dentists and his daughters do endurance races with Arabians. I want to say they travel to California? We always have gab fests about our horses and competing. |
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 Don't Ask Me
Posts: 4077
| i am very blessed to have horses who can be off for 3-4 months and come right out like they never missed a beat and will behave accoridngly--but i dont run then due to not wanting injury-- my horses will run their heart out for me and i know this-- so they dont run until they are fit--
its smarter/cheaper to prevent injury then to pay for and injury afterwards in my book
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Cat Collector
Posts: 1430
| mruggles - 2013-12-31 11:04 AM
I refuse to run any of mine without having them in shape.....mine have been off since oct and I plan on having them ready to go for mid march so to me that means I better be on them jan 1st.......M
this is exactly what i said, some reason my comment was deleted! |
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 Wishing I were a Wildcat
Location: 'Hawk Country | CocoChex - 2014-01-01 1:52 PM People running their out-of-shape horses is one of my major pet peeves! I feel so badly for the horses. I would never do that. I take a lot of time getting my horses legged up - and keeping them there
I agree. It is so selfish!
At a race a couple of weeks ago, a girl said to me "my poor horses, I don't ride them because it is cold but then I bring them here and run them".
I asked, "then why are you here when you know how bad this is for them?"
Her answer "Because I wanted to run."
I had to ride away 
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running a horse with out riding....