Horseback Riding - Endurance

A conditioned horse, under average favorable condi­tions of footing, country and weather, may be ridden about 45 miles in a day without exhaustion. This distance was actually averaged by the United States Cavalry over a three-week period foraging on the country. Greater distances, however, are not infrequent. In Vermont endur­ance tests, horses, largely of Morgan stock, were ridden an average of 60 miles a day for five days. On two occasions, at the U. S. Cavalry School, Fort Riley, Kansas, a squadron of Cavalry (approximately 300 horses) with full equipment and packs, was marched 100 miles in 24 hours (18 hours actual marching) and went on the next day for sev­eral miles without the loss of a horse.

A good draft horse can pull one-half to three-quarters of his own weight: e.g., a 2,000 pound draft horse can pull 1,000 to 1,500 pounds, one-half to three-quarters of a ton.

A Shetland pony can pull one to one-half again its own weight: e.g., a 400 to 500 pound Shetland can pull 500 to 800 pounds.

Some riding and trail associations conduct periodic endurance contests. Usually these are 100 miles to be negotiated in three days—40 miles the first day, 40 the second and 20 miles on the third day. A time limit—say 7 hours for the 40 mile phases—is established and the judging is influenced largely by the condition of the horses during and at the end of the ride. Riders can­not advance while dismounted (i.e., cannot lead their horses) and all rest periods and breaks are included in the time.

To negotiate 40 miles in 6 to 7 hours requires:

A planned time schedule of gaits and rests for the whole ride, and for each hour, and Thorough conditioning of horse and rider—also in accordance with a plan. Included in these preparations is learning how long your horse will take to cover a mile at the walk, the trot and the canter—over a carefully measured course—on the level and over varied country, up and downhill. A good frame of reference is: walk one mile in 15 min­utes; trot a mile in 7 minutes; canter a mile in 5 minutes. Most of the distance should be covered at a trot and a walk.

For relatively level country, the following is a plan for the 40 mile phase of a 100 mile ride. If the terrain does not permit strict adherence to the planned schedule, it is modified and adjusted so that the total minutes assigned to each gait are adhered to.

If, however, the course is over steep, mountainous country, a planned time schedule is not used; you must, of course, walk up and down the steep slopes and move along at a trot or canter on the comparatively level stretches to average out the time as best you and your horse can manage.

Cool Down

If you are riding cross-country and come to a stream, permit your horse to drink—even if he is hot (obviously though, not overheated or in a lather) and provided he is moved along directly after drinking. There is an ill effect only if the horse is allowed to stand after drinking.

Returning to the stable after a long or hard ride, do not remove the saddle immediately—loosen the girth and leave the saddle on the horse's back so that the blood will not return too strongly to the long compressed blood vessels under the saddle.

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