Thanks ;~D I think there's a lot of similarity between that kind of conditioning and the right way to prepare for Becky's competitive rides.
The tough part about Becky's stuff is that 'marathon' is two days in a row... and both rides are significant in length, at 20 miles each day.
Wow...I know I couldn't have run an inch the next day after my marathon...I ran the Austin River City 10-Miler the next weekend, though...was the only one of my running friends that could! :-)
The idea, in my opinion is slow and steady increases in distance with a recovery day after a long jaunt...I guess that's the best way for horses too...but don't know.
An important part of Marathon training is eating the right food regulary, and drinking plenty of water. That has got to be an important factor in a horses marathon to I would think. : )
Sounds like every other day would be better then everyday.
The second day of our ride alot of the horses do start out rather stiff. The vet checks them, if they are too bad they get pulled. Usually tho they let them go at least to the first P&R stop and then see how they are.
Only one time did I have trouble on the start of the second day and that was when I used that neoprene pad and it had scalded Belle. She was really sore to start. Some lady who made pads loaned me one and said go to the first stop and see how she was. She was fine and finished in good shape.
Becky