Week 3

I am just now getting a chance to write down my thoughts from last week's training.  The weather here last week was rainy so it put a bit of a hinderance on my plans, but I did get in some good riding.  We focused on trotting for about 30 to 40 min with about 10 min of cantering and then 30 to 40 min of walking with some small uphill terrain.  We did this 3 days last week.  We had an in between day where we walked for about 30 to 40 min inside because of the rain. She had been shut in all day. 
I have been mointering her wieght and so far she seems to be maitaining.  She appears to be putting on muscle, but not losing weight.  I have also started feeding her Vitamin E so lactic acid won't build up in her muscles and a flake of timothy mixed hay at night.  On nights when I work her and she sweats, she gets electroylites and extra beet pulp and alfala cubes with her feed.  On nights she is not worked she gets her normal ration.
As for myself I have also started trying to build muscle up in my own body esp. my upper body, abs, and core, so that I can support myself better when I ride and have a better fitness level for the both of us.  I have dropped below 120 lbs. which is not good.  I am getting back my "runner's body" which is not enough muscle.  Since I would already be "underweight" for endurance runs and would have to pack weight I am going to begin to work on adding extra muscle and not just losing fat.
Until next time...

Endurance Training Week 2 Days 3, 4, and 5

This week the weather has been really weird, but that is horseback riding in Georgia for ya.  It has made riding a little more difficult.  I decided to try riding in my western saddle and see how my horse would do, previous to that I have been riding in my Isabella Dressage saddle.  Monday I rode for 2 and half hours mostly pretty slow.  Tuesday I went to get her and I noticed she was moving a little stiff so I let her pick the pace and a weather front was moving in, so we took a break and worked on a pole pattern and the clover leaf pattern.  She got a good hose down and cool off time.  I think she was stiff because I used my western saddle.  I had ridden her almost that long before with no previous problems. I have found a forum that has been really helpful and linked me up with some other endurance riders.  http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com  You can ask questions and meet all kinds of people.  Not that you should take everyone's advice, but it is still nice to meet people who want to do the same things as you.