So now that the calendar has turned, I have, of course, been pouring over the ride schedule’s for this year. And it just so happens that 3 of the rides are within a 30 day stretch. One the last weekend of March, one mid April and one the last weekend of April (so 2 weeks in between each one). They are all 25 milers (two CTR’s and an LD). Is this too much? My gut says a fit and happy horse will be fine but what do you guys with more experience think?
I really like to get these 3 rides in because I am loathe to much in the summer (MD heat and I don’t do well together). Alternate thoughts would be having a second horse ready to do one of the rides.
For me it would depend on how fit the horse is and how you plan to do the rides: for fun/conditioning or to try and win? If the answers are “very fit” and “not trying to win,” I would “plan” to do all 3 but be flexible and re-consider after each completion. If all goes well in #1 and horse seems happy after, plan on #2. If #2 goes well, ditto. If at any point horse doesn’t seem right or you just think it’s a bit much, don’t bother to do the third. Just send a deposit when you sign up for that one, if possible, so you don’t mind losing it if you bail. In the meantime you’ve got a lot of time to condition beforehand.
might not be a bad idea to enter all three just in case you cannot attend one or complete one for some reason.
[QUOTE=GotMyPony;6760100]
For me it would depend on how fit the horse is and how you plan to do the rides: for fun/conditioning or to try and win? If the answers are “very fit” and “not trying to win,” I would “plan” to do all 3 but be flexible and re-consider after each completion. If all goes well in #1 and horse seems happy after, plan on #2. If #2 goes well, ditto. If at any point horse doesn’t seem right or you just think it’s a bit much, don’t bother to do the third. Just send a deposit when you sign up for that one, if possible, so you don’t mind losing it if you bail. In the meantime you’ve got a lot of time to condition beforehand.[/QUOTE]
I’m definitely a “ride to have fun and hopefully complete” type of rider. She is fairly fit, but there is the MD weather to wrestle with for the next 3 months. I think I probably will go ahead with entries for all 3.
Your horse could EASILY do 3 25’s over 30 days.
Two CTRs with controlled times, and one LD with min/max time limits?
For the LD, use the max time if you have to.
I’d treat the rides as training, maybe only do a couple of slow hack outs and one longer ride during the weeks between events. You will be amazed at the difference in fitness in both of you, and soon be ready to think about the longer distances. Endurance is all about conditioning and horse/rider partnership.
My pony did 3 x 50 milers in 30 days and improved her time in 1 hour increments, without really trying - she had done about 4 x 25’s before that - and felt like she could easily step up another 25 on the 3rd day.
We don’t enter to be first over the line, but it’s amazing how often we come home with a placing because the racers vet out, lol. Maintaining a steady pace is an art in itself and you get better (and faster) with experience. CTR is good for that.
Nancy Loving’s book Go the Distance is still my go-to reference book - she has excellent info on conditioning and diet.
Pretty sure I know which rides you’re talking about, and I did all 3 of them last year, with the middle one being a 50. We did get pulled at the last CTR, but only because another horse crashed into us halfway through and took a 12-inch strip of skin off his cannon bone. 
I think as long as the weather gods smile on us for the next few months and you’re able to train consistently, you should be fine. And like GMP says, you can always re-evaluate after each one…
For me a 25-miler is no different than an average day of foxhunting. So three such rides in a month is a piece of cake for even a half fit horse.
Thanks guys- after I wrote the question out and posted it- I felt a little silly. Of course she can do it
I’ve done 3 endurance rides in as many days: 50, 55, and 50…on the same horse. There are many in the sport that do 5 days of 50’s in a row…on the same horse. I say go for it. Just listen to your horse.
There are multi day rides, for LD’s and endurance.
Go! As sign of Grace said, Just listen to your horse.
Easy breezy! Go for it!
