With all that’s happened this past year, it’s been difficult for me to keep track of events. When I stop to think, nothing feels like progress. Most of the year I’ve felt like the Red Queen, running just as hard as I can just to stay in place. Of course, when it comes to Fantazia, there has been progress. But then a series of mistakes meant the end of my Tevis goal for this year, and even our last ride was a fail. Today, however, we rode in Paso Robles on the same trails we covered in September 2020. (See my post from that time about Conditioning in Deep Sand.) We did twice the distance and more than twice the elevation gain, easily, in just 30 more minutes. 13 months make a huge difference, when it comes to training for endurance.
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Comparing September 5, 2020 to October 26, 2021
I already knew that 13 months make a huge difference, based on rides at home
13 months make a huge difference in basic training as well
Above: Last year in Paso Robles.
Comparing September 5, 2020 to October 26, 2021
In both rides, I started and finished by following the Huer Huero Creek, described here as an “ephemeral underground stream;” it’s a dry wash with deep to very deep sand. Riders have access to around 5.5 to six miles of it. This year, I spent more time in the creek, and went faster. We did a lot of cantering, because it’s easier for horses to canter than trot in deep sand. And I knew I had enough horse.
I also rode along back roads in both rides, mostly dirt with some paved. This year we did a lot more road too.
2020:
8.01 miles in 2 hours, 2 minutes, 4 seconds. Total elevation gain: 423.6 feet. Average pace 15:14 min/mile. Fastest mile: 9:27.
2021:
16.02 miles in 2 hours, 41 minutes, 13 seconds. Total elevation gain: 1,413 feet. Average pace 10:04 min/mile. Fastest mile: 7:33. Average moving pace: 9:34; best pace: 4:31. Average heart rate: 102bpm. Max HR: 163bpm.
I didn’t have my Garmin or a heart rate monitor last year, so we cannot compare everything, but what we can compare demonstrates how much more horse I have now.
Above: We encountered donkeys on our ride yesterday!
The good, summarized
- No muscle cramps, and it was a hard workout in deep sand much of the time.
- We cantered a full mile in the river bed, without stopping, and she wasn’t even huffing.
- Sound horse from beginning to end, and the next day (I have been checking obsessively).
- She came into the stable at 80bpm and was at 52 within 8 minutes (with hosing cold water). (At Quicksilver she didn’t pulse down, so I am watching this)
I already knew that 13 months make a huge difference, based on rides at home…
But I’d seen that change gradually. Improvement is easier to notice when you don’t repeat the same trail for over a year! Still, I did know. Now, I can ride wherever I want at home (water permitting), without worrying about running out of horse if I get too far away or tackle unexpectedly challenging terrain.
My post on Riding in Steep Terrain to Increase Fitness also highlights how much Fantazia has improved over this long COVID year.
Our last serious conditioning ride at home
Last Friday we rode 13 miles in just over three hours, slow, but with 3.346′ total elevation gain. It was our first real training ride since the Quicksilver Fall Classic. I didn’t really plan, just rode out the back gate looking for adventure. I got my wish. Within the first few miles, I saw our resident Golden Eagles close enough to get a good video of them. Later I saw smoke from the direction of the Windy Fire, which I assumed it was, since that fire is still smoldering. (video of smoke) However, they are also doing a lot of controlled burns now, and–on second thought–the smoke pattern looked more like a controlled burn.
Some observations relevant to our next rides
I enjoyed the scenery, but I also paid attention to Fantazia’s heart rate and breathing. I learned something. Previously, I had been assuming that our overall slow pace on our rides reflected slower speeds because of the hills. And it does, to some extent. But we also go much faster than I do on rides (which I hadn’t realized). However, I also stop a lot, to talk on the phone (because if I move I can lose service), to take pictures and videos…
So although her heart rate gets higher than it does at rides, and we charge up hills, Fantazia has more opportunity to recover. I’m thinking that on my next rides, rather than slowing her down as much and limiting cantering, I will stop more frequently. I plan to spend more time at watering holes and more time just standing. Walking, too, but she walks very slowly except at the beginning of a ride; better to just set my alarm for a five minute stand and look at the scenery than fight with her to either walk faster or not jig. Jigging is totally counterproductive for everyone.
13 months make a huge difference in basic training as well
When we got to Paso on Monday (having driven though glorious RAIN), Fantazia was a basket case. I put her in a nice paddock, but she thought she was on a ride. She spent half an hour charging around in circles. I decided a ride would get the silly out. I rode bareback (on a sponge pad held in place with an overgirth) with her bosal. After walking and watching the activity going on about the place, I took her into an arena and jogged then loped a clover-leaf pattern. (See my most popular blog-post ever on the Clover-leaf pattern.)
Above: Looking over our clover-leaf pattern tracks on Monday.
The clover-leaf requires collection and shortening/lengthening of stride. Fantazia does this automatically now. Once I set her on the pattern, I don’t have to steer–just keep my inside leg on her so she doesn’t “cheat” by shortening the leaves!
Fantazia is also much more trained in other respects. Her neck-reining is excellent. She does shoulder-in, haunches-in (and out, in both cases, but it’s exactly the same!), turns on the haunches and forehand, side-pass, and a not-too-terrible half-pass. Considering the little time we spend in the arena, I am very pleased.