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Conditioning for Endurance

2K views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  corinowalk 
#1 ·
Hello everyone!

I had a very needed question and so I came here to see if you all would be able to help me.

I am trying to get started in endurance but I am kind of stuck on knowing how to condition for it. Like what exercises to do, how long we should do them, what kind of de-spooking tips, and other things like that. So, if you guys know of ANYTHING, it would be a great help. Even books you would recommend, sites, blogs etc.

Thanks so much! Hope to get some feedback soon :)
 
#2 ·
I'm hoping to get into Endurance next year as well. What I'm doing to condition my guy is trail rides, lots of them and working towards long ones. We average at about 3hrs now with walk/trot/canter mixed in. What I have found also is that you get everything on trail rides (if you have somewhere to go). We get scary stuff he has to get used to, cars/traffic, hills up and down, going over logs, turning/weaving through trees.

We are working up to a weekend trip this month. We are leaving on Friday to go to a friends place. That ride in itself is 5-6 hrs. Then on Saturday we are going on a trail with people from around the area we are staying at. 3-4 hrs that day. Then riding back home on Sunday, which again is 5-6hrs.

If you are able to get out and go for long rides not in the arena that will greatly help your horse.
 
#5 ·
I think most of you will start out doing the 25 mile mileage runs. They are easy and any horse in even moderate condition can do them. You don't need hours and hours of conditioning and you certainly don't need a 6 hour run to complete one. Ride 2 or 3 hours a couple of times a week and then go enter the 25 mile ride. Even taking it easy you can do it in about 4 hours. The excitement of being at a ride with all those other people and horses will carry you through. Your horse will see new trails and the adreniline will kick in

Don't over train, don't over think it. Just go out and try it. The vets, the people are all pulling for you.

Go have fun. Again don't overtrain for it. You can do it even if you have never ridden further then 15 miles, 25 miles under those conditions will fly by and you will be hooked.
 
#7 ·
I've been wanting to get into endurance too. There are a couple of races local run ever year that I've want to try. My horses are both barefoot & have really hard feet.
Would you suggest using boots?
 
#9 ·
To the OP I would listen to RiosDad, he's one of the resident endurance gurus =)

If I am the resident anything then LISTEN to me.

ALL of you can do it. This is a fun ride and 25 miles will slip behind you so quickly you won't believe you did it. Nearly any horse can do it will little conditioning.
The ride is broken down into 2 12 mile legs. The first leg your addreline is pumping and you want to burn up the trail..DON'T You have lots of time.

At the start everyone starts from a field, you don't need to be there. You can sit at the trailer and once everyone tears out of there mount up and head out with you group at a much slower pace. Just enjoy the new trail, the pampering from the people working the ride and the vets.
A easy trot will get you through in plenty of time. Loping is not necessary
Water will be every 6 miles so use it. At 12 miles there will be another camp set up. this is a hold, you can not leave here before 30 minutes. At this hold you can eat, graze the horse, relax, pee break and a VET check to make sure the horse is ok.. These vets are for you, not against you and will help you.
If you or your horse is too tired to continue they will provide a ride home.
After the 30 minute hold you are going home. A new different trail but home is 12 miles down that trail.
Again don't run, a nice working trot is enough.
The ride home will go quickly. Lots of people around, lots of other horses makes for a fun ride.
Back home you will unsaddle the horse, feed him, maybe bath him but again the vet must check to make sure he is not in pain or lame.
If he finds the horse fine you pass and get credit for a successful ride.

A lunch follows with various prizes for all sorts of things.

It is a nice day, a FUN day, a new place to ride.
Go out, don't overtrain, don't overthink it. Just get out , enjoy the trial, don't burn up your horse thinking it is a race, it is not, it is an outing along a new trail with people showering attention on you.
You are among friends even it you don't know them.

AGain all of you can do it.
Go out and have fun.

The guru has spoken:lol::lol::lol:

Barefoot or shod is up to you. If you ride barefoot then run barefoot. This is not a test that will affect you tomorrow, complete the ride or give up half way doesn't change your life, although a finish puts you in a high but if you have a problem at the half way point then take the ride home and think about what went wrong.

Again go out and have fun, You can do it
 
#8 ·
Boots are actually quite dangerous sometimes. You need to really go through and test out all of them. some even come off when you are just cantering.

If your horse is barefoot and good with her feet you shouldn't need them.

Also check out the trail like a weekend before if you know where its being held. That way you know the main obstacles and where to slow down and take it easy.
 
#10 ·
Jeez Rio...you made it sound so fun, I really do wanna do it! I wish we had rides in this area. I know there are plenty of riders, lots of places to ride, but no scheduled rides.
 
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