Conference noted::equitation

    Is it that time already? The time when we think about digging the
    ole riding boots and britches out of the back of the closest where
    they were thrown during the holidays, when the saddle has to have
    3 inches of dust (since October or early November) cleaned off of
    it, the spurs have to be dug out and cleaned, etc.?
    
    No seriously, I ride all year long except for 4 weeks between
    Thanksgiving and Christmas and then when I start riding again, I
    usually trail ride on weekends and 2-3 ring days. I too am interested
    in finding out how people condition because, although I have never
    evented before, I am going to take fraidy-cat heart in hand and
    try it out this year, just novice but still attempting it!
    
    Thanks in advance for any advice!!!
    
    Linda
    

    We conditioned our dressage horses last year and it really made
    a difference in their performance and stamina.  We basically followed
    the program outlined in EQUUS (probably two years ago and improved
    on in follow-up articles).
    
    Our basic program was two days of rest for each horse, 3 days of
    conditioning, and 2 days of schooling.  We started out with an hour
    of walk since the horses were off all winter.  After a week or two
    added some trot.  Then went for distances at certain speeds.  First
    we did 5 miles at 5 miles an hour (walk and trot).  Gradually
    increasing to 7 miles at 7 miles an hour.  I can't remember too
    clearly, but I think one horse got up to 7 miles at 9 miles an hour.
    
    We'll be starting again as soon as the footing is good and will
    let you know what the plan is for this year.
    
    						Jan
     

    Due to all the rain in April (not to mention the snowstorm at the
    end!), we didn't get to start our conditioning program until this
    month.  The first thing you need to know is how fast your horse
    goes at different gaits.  We measured by doing 1/4 mile at each
    gait and timing it.  You should be doing a working gait (not going
    as fast as you can) for the entire distance you're measuring (can
    be done with less distance, e.g. 1/10th of a mile).  You also need
    to know your horse's resting pulse rate.  We bought a stethoscope
    from one of the vet supply catalogs since we both have a hard time
    finding and keeping a horse's pulse by hand.
    
    We usually do conditioning work 3 to 4 days a week as mentioned
    in the last reply.  The horses get 2 days off and are schooled the
    remaining days.  We started the conditioning by walking them for
    an hour (we do 4 miles at 4 mph) for the first two weeks to start
    building up their legs.  This starts them off easy and they don't
    get sore muscles.  Then we start increasing the speed and distance.
    It's fairly easy to increase both at first.
    
    Now that you are increasing speed, you monitor your horse's heart
    rate, too.  After the last trotting section you take your horse's
    pulse as quickly as possible (yes I do ride with the stethoscope
    around my neck).  Take it for 6 seconds and multiply by 10 (for
    resting pulse you can take it for 10 secs. or 15 secs. and multiply
    by appropriate factor).  Use 6 seconds because if you go longer
    the pulse rate will start to drop off and you want to try to get
    as close to what the horse's rate was while working.  You want the
    horse to work in the aerobic range (EQUUS articles can explain this
    and have the ranges - I can look up the issues for anyone interested,
    send me mail) because that's the range for conditioning.  As your
    horse gets more fit, it will take more work to get the pulse up
    to this rate.
    
    Always walk the last mile and figure your overall mph with this
    in mind (i.e. you may do the first 4 miles at 7-8 mph to get an
    overall rate of 6 mph for 5 miles, it all depends on how quickly
    your horse travels).  Take your horse's pulse at the end of the
    last mile and see how close it is to the horse's resting pulse.
    If your horse hasn't recovered enough yet (with our horses they
    have to have a pulse of 80 or less) then you should walk more till
    the heart rate comes down.  Also check your horse's condition the
    next day (is it sore, lame?).
    
    If the increase seems too much then go back to your last time/distance.
    If your horse responds well, stay at it for a week or two then try
    the next increase.
    
    Currently we are working 6 miles at 6 mph - we usually don't have
    more than an hour to work the horses, so we stick to distances and
    times that fit that constraint.  We will probably start 6 miles
    at 7 mph in the next week or so.
    
    I recommend that people read the EQUUS articles first before starting
    a conditioning program, but at least this will give you an idea
    of what's involved.  Also as your horse becomes more fit, you change
    the type of schooling work, too.  Hope this is enough to get some
    people thinking seriously about conditioning.  Would like to hear
    about other people's programs.
    
    						Jan
    

    	Hi Jan,
    
    	Would you please list which Equus issues that mention the ranges?
    	I have the last two year's issues.  I would be interested in
    	reading those articles.
    
    	Wood 'preciate it!
    
    	Susan

    Well, the EQUUS issue on conditioning is a bit further back than
    I remembered - it's the November 1981 issue!  Since it's one of the
    anniversary issues the whole issue is devoted to conditioning.
    
    The good news is that EQUUS put all the articles in that issue into
    one of their monographs called Sport Science I.  There is also one
    called Sport Science II which goes into more detail about the affects
    of conditioning on the heart, lungs, bones, muscles, etc. taking
    each system separately.
    
    Both of the monographs are available from:
    
    		Fleet Street Corp.
    		656 Quince Orchard Rd.
    		Gaithersburg, MD 20878
    
    They cost $4.50 each plus $1.50 shipping/handling per order.
    
    The monographs are really nice since they are smaller than magazine
    size and have all the articles and diagrams without all the ads
    in the magazine.
    
    						Jan

    Jan - thanks for taking the time to look up all that info!
    
    Linda

    
    	YES!  Thanks so much!
    
    	I'll have to see about getting my own copy!  Thanks for the
    	good information.
    
    	Susan