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Nicki
Bronze Member

United Kingdom

149 Posts

Posted - 23 Sep 2009 : 9:31:06 PM

Hi
How much recovery time do people tend to allow. I thought I read a day for every 10 to 15 km. I normally try to leave 2 weeks after an 80k ride and dont ride, just leave the horse to chill out. This works fine on my gelding, but I've found on my mare it's too much to leave her unridden and she's better to be working.
Just keen to know what sort of recovery time others are allowing (aware that of course every horse is different), also I would allow more after an ER as it is much faster and more adrenalin etc than I would after a CR especially if I was hoping to take it steady round a CR.
Last question, some people we see out and about at rides seem to be out doing 65 to 80k most weekends. What sort of experience do you guys out there have on frequency of rides/recovery time ?

thanks in advance
Nicki

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lisa rachel
Gold Member

Wales
831 Posts

Posted - 23 Sep 2009 : 10:15:08 PM

For what it's worth,we go for as a rule of thumb 1 day rest per 10 miles in competition,(at least).
It does though , as you say depend on speed as on our big ride we rode usually for 10 days then 2 off but once on great going in Turkey did 17 days in a row and the horses were looking and feeling great,they felt like they could go on and on forever but we did stop then for a while when we reached the wonderland of Cappadoccia beautiful for us and beautiful grass and lucerne for the horses. Also although we were doing 25-40 km each day, they got a good couple of hours grazing in the middle of the day as a break and lots of walking as well as going faster on the good going.
Also of course our rest days were dictated by when we found good safe places where the horses could really relax and stuff their faces... they always got bored and itchy feet after 2 days though!!
Cheers
Lisa

lisa

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Gemma
Platinum Member

United Kingdom
1802 Posts

Posted - 24 Sep 2009 : 08:23:06 AM

It will vary from horse to horse, but I also go with the day off per 10 miles (16km), plus a day off if we've had a long journey. Also extra days off if we've done an ER as opposed to a CR.

If we're doing longer rides then I won't do more than one a month, maybe even 6 weeks for a 100km or more. And a good 2 months for a 160km in a day - I wouldn't do more than one a season.

It really does depend on the horse in question (and your finances!). I personally wouldn't be out doing 65km, 80km week in, week out. I think those guys are very lucky to have horses who can cope with that level of work.

Photo 2: West End Photography

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Pauline
Platinum Member

England
3185 Posts

Posted - 24 Sep 2009 : 09:10:46 AM

I have always gone for 1 day per 10 miles (16k) plus 1 day.

It does depend on your horse/pony.

Recently I did a tough 80k on a mare that was going advanced and she had a week off then 2 days walking before back to full work.

last Sunday I did the 78k Vets ER at the Three Rivers ride (Which I won) My mare had Monday off and I just lunged her for 10 mins yesterday Tuesday (this is just to see and get rid of any stiffness)Even though she is out 24/7 it is nice to see under controlled conditions how she is moving.She will have the rest of the week off and come back into full work on Monday as she is going to do the Arab Marathon (Vet Class) on the 18th October.

In the past I have known a top rider win the Summer Solstice (160k) and then go onto win the 160k at Cirencester one month apart.The horse was a black non Arab mare. The horse had 3 1/2 weeks off and only did a small amount of work before the second ride.

With my old pony I could do 20/25 miles every week competition with either a ER or longer ride once a month.He completed many 100 miles at the GHS and several 60mile ERs per season.

He continued to compete well into his 20's

Pauline