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Education & Training

 

New to Endurance?

So much to learn! Don't be overwhelmed by the amount of information available. The welfare of your horse is your top priority. With so many gadgets, feeds, minerals etc. on the market today, it's hard to know what is right for your horse. Many endurance riders keep it amazingly simple, preferring not to tamper too much with their horse's systems.  They learned by getting the feel of their horses, starting slowly, and building their horses up carefully over a period of three years through a progressive conditioning program, feed, teeth care, deworming, hoofcare, proper tack, etc.

Some quick suggestions:

  •   Don't: try anything new at a ride. No new cinches, bridles, feed, etc. Get your horse used to all the things he'll experience, long before your ride date.
  •   Don't: go any faster than your horse has been training, and don't get caught up in another person's ride.
  •   Do: ride your own ride, ride for your horse, and ride to learn more and enjoy your day.
  •   Do: ask the veterinarian questions, but try not to hold up his/her time in the vet line-up.
  •   Do: ask for help from longtime members. There are many around who are more than willing to answer any questions.
  •   Don't: leave your horse either tied or penned for long periods once your ride is over. He'll need walking for relaxation and muscle-stretching, fresh grass and water, and possibly blanketing, after he's finished.
  •   Don't: just train and condition your horse without having fun. If it starts to feel like a job, take him out for fun...long walks...cross-training, and do dressage work to get him working off your legs. This training eventually comes in handy when turning around in a tight spot on a mountain trail!
  •   DO: READ EVERYTHING YOU CAN from the “Introductory Reading” link and then take what works for you and your horse.

Old to Endurance?

Still so much to learn! Whether you plan to take you and your horse to the next level of performance or want to become a coach yourself, there are many resources available here.  Make sure you check out the other Education & Training links for clinics & seminars near you, updates on the Endurance Coaching Certification Program, or high performance research for people and equine athletes.

A Closer Look at Endurance Ride Pull Codes

Veterinarian Melissa Ribley kindly provided an article in Endurance News a couple of years ago elucidating pull codes for horses and riders on endurance rides: 

M – Metabolic 
L – Lameness 
OT – Overtime 
SF – Surface Factors 

Then there’s the RO – Rider Option, when there is nothing wrong with the horse and it has been cleared by a vet, but the rider wishes to pull; RO-L, when the horse has been cleared by the vet, but the rider feels there may be some lameness issue, and RO-M, when the horse has been cleared by the vet but the rider feels there may be some metabolic issue. 

 

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