Horse Care and Health Tips

The last ride I did, I wore a heart-rate monitor to see how many calories I burned during that 25 miles. I burned 1,000 calories on my horse that day. I am in good shape, and that is a very serious workout. To give an example, I burn 1,000 calories by running 10 miles (on my own legs and feet).  So you can see that an endurance ride is not for the weak body. Preparing your body for the race should include a lot of riding. However, in addition to that, you should stay healthy. Walk, stretch and do physical activity as much as possible. The stronger you are, the better rider you are, especially when you become fatigued, and I guarantee you, that after two hours of trotting and in a saddle, you will become fatigued. Your body and muscles are tired, and  you are only partially finished. Your riding will get sloppy and that will affect your horses ability to perform. Let me put it this way, if you are on you horse bouncing around at  a fast trot, your horses back will become s...

You just completed your first endurance ride (or you are on your 45 minute stop). Your horse has pulsed down and you completed! Congratulations are in order for you and your horse. You head back to camp to unsaddle, but you have no idea how to care for your horse after putting him or her through their very first horse marathon. You look around and see people with all sorts of rituals that each one of them aware by. You wonder what works, but also realize you may not have the equipment that you need to take care of your race partner. Here are a few pointers that might help alleviate soreness or stiffness in your horse. - Get a sponge and sponge your horse with cool water on the neck, front legs, and shoulders. DO NOT GET IT BEHIND THE CINCH. Let the rest of your horse cool naturally. Many people keep blankets on their rump to keep them warm in the rear. -If it is chilly out, put a blanket on your horse, he is sweaty and will be very cold. - Give him some electrolytes. There are several ...