Building up to going on a pleasure ride

[flintfootfilly]

Was chatting with my instructor about goals and stuff, and she was saying it would be nice to aim to do a pleasure ride with Streak by the end of this year. My mouth dropped, and I replied that I thought it'd be nice to do pleasure rides with Streak too, but the timescale I was looking at was a year or 2's time! But then I'm a great one for being SURE we're really ready for something before attempting it.

Just wondering what kind of experiences/outings any of you would think of doing preparing for going on a pleasure ride on a relatively green horse.

In the meantime we'll be building up the amount of time/distance we do hacking, varying the pace a lot and making sure we can go up and down the energy levels niciely, plus I guess I need to get out and ride out with a few friends horses so that Streak gets more used to the idea of riding out in company. Also we've got a good, lively horsey centre only an hour away which has various indoor/outdoor schools/grass field/gallops, so we could go there and just soak up the atmosphere of horses doing different things........ plus I guess I should get her out to a few shows, even just to potter around.

Really interested to hear any other thoughts that people have.

Thanks.

Sarah

[jay]

I did my 1st pleasure ride with Jay a couple of months ago. I was really worried about it because Jay can be really strong when he's excited! I was due to go with a friend but unfortunately she couldn't make it because her pony had gone lame. I decided to go anyway because we'd put in so much preparation. It was the best thing I ever did...he was an angel and we both thoroughly enjoyed it! So I'd highly recommend it.

In preparing for it we just did a few more longer hacks from about a month before. We've been learning to jump, so Jay was fairly fit anyway. I also took him out over the fields with a few friends horses so he could get used to cantering sensibly.

For the ride itself I swapped Jay's usual kk snaffle for his gag, just so I knew I'd have some more brakes if needed. However he was such an angel I thought I'd leave his snaffle in for the next ride we did...big mistake....he spent the first half an hour pulling me like a tank!

I think getting Streak out to shows and things beforehand will be really good preparation for her. Good luck....I hope you both enjoy it!

[JoM]

Sarah, you will probably find that the 1st pleasure ride will go brilliantly! She will be in awe over everything and not really sure what to make of it all - it will be the 2nd one that is the tell tale! LOL

Same with hunting - dont know what to make of it all the 1st time out - 2nd time - hang on, this was fun last time!!!!!!

[greydales]

You've covered most things Sarah, main thing would be to make sure she's fit enough to go the distance although you can do them at your own pace, so they dont have to be superfit! Also to start riding her out and about with others, as this can be very exciting if they are not used to it

When we did pleasure rides we spent a few weeks fittening them up, gradually building up trotting periods until we could trot for a fair while without them getting tired. Dan was the one who needed the most fittening as Pip was naturally fit all the time!

It is a lovely way to enjoy your horse, and to get to see places not usually open to the public.

[DalesLady]

Sarah, I think that given the amount of thinking, preparatory work and general care about the welfare of all your ponies, Streak is ready to do a short one now. She is much better prepared than Joanne was the first one we did and she just took it in her stride anyway. Streak will do the same.

Of course you will do one this year.

[harveydales]

I agree with the others Sarah. I'm quite sure you will have Streak physically and mentally prepared for a short pleasure ride now and it will do her nothing but good. I know you would never over do things with her so i don't see why not have a go. Also I think Jo is probably right in as much as the first one will be fine, the second she will know what is coming and be more excited. I only have experience of bringing on one youngster I bred. I started riding her at age 4, hacking in company and alone. Then I was advised to take her cubbing aged 5, just for a short outing for experience and to help her gain confidence etc. I built fitness and distance up gradually over a few months and she was wonderful the first time out. After that is was a nightmare as she found it SO exciting!

[flintfootfilly]

Thanks everyone. Plenty to work on, and then I'll see how I feel about it late summer or early autumn. I guess if we can find a nice small, short ride initially that would be good too. Ah well, at least the idea is well and truly in mind now!

Sarah

[harleydales]

Yep, you've covered everything, so go for it and ENJOY!!

Going to the busy yard is a good plan, Harley found all the goings on very distracting and when we got to competitive rides, we sometimes started the ride with a higher heart rate than when we finished!

It might be worth getting him used to being cooled off with a sponge and scraper. Harls objected to it a bit to start with, but is OK now. I also take a cheap flannel and towel to wash and dry his face and mouth, he loves that ands it helps bring him down.

The first ride he will cling to you like glue, the second one he'll remember it was FUN. After that whenever he sees a yellow bib he'll think he's at a ride - there was a sponsored cycle near my filed a couple of weekends ago and the marshalls had yellow bibs on. Harley satarted shouting and looking for other horses LOL!

When it comes to the day, ride your own ride. Don't go any faster than you are happy with, or any slower for that matter. I tend to ride on my own to avoid problems with other horses. Try to get a horse that is a good match to Streaks gait.

He'll love it.

[dalesvic]

Just wondering what people do in term of fittening work for pleasure rides (and how far do they tend to be)?
I mean sort of how long do you take them out for and the frequency etc? I want to fitten Sammy up to doing longer rides which is something I've never achieved before, and I think I tend to err on the far side of caution and perhaps not push her as much as I could do. Any guidance appreciated

Sarah- I agree with what others have said, I'm sure you will already have a well prepared horse ( and much more than some). You seem to cover everything very thoroughly so I'm sure you will be ready to do one by late summer. If your instructor thinks so then why not?! Go for it

[harleydales]

Harley's first pleasure of this year was in March, and I started fittening 6 weeks before. Because I have no facilities, I could only ride at the weekends given the dark. I tried to hack 6 miles each day (Sat & Sun), at first trotting 2, then 3, then 4. Then I built it up to 8 miles, trotting 6, and timing it to check I was doing around the right speed.

After the first ride, he gained fitness very quickly (they always do) and I carried on in the same vein, but upped one hack per weekend to 9 miles, trotting 7.

Once they are comfortable doing a 10 mile pleasure between 5.5 and 6 mph, they will cope with a 20 miler at 5.5 mph. To get up to the 30 milers you need to do longer rides, I found that doing 10 to 15 miles each day at the weekend was a great way to fitten, plus a faster evening ride of 4 to 6 miles mid week. Short fast rides are great for the cardiovascular system.

Once they are 30 mile fit, you can get away with maintaining the fitness by doing a short fast ride once a week, and a longer steadier ride once a week. An outdoor kept horse will maintain his fitness at that level.

If a ride is on the Sunday, I NEVER ride after the Wednesday before, so that he is fresh for the day. After a ride I might lead him out in hand on the Monday, but as he is out 24/7 I don't often do that. Then I would hack out again on the Wednesday.
Think about schooling too - a well balanced horse who carries himself correctly will cope much better with the distances than one who is on his forehand. A friend of mine who is a top 100 mile a day rider (yikes!) does dressage with her horse through the winter, and regular schooling all year. It keeps their mind active too.

Hope this helps!

[dalesvic]

Thanks very much, that's just what I was after- I'm guessing that 6.5 mph is mostly trotting then with some walk in general? It is encouraging that you manage to fitten him up just riding at the weekends. I have no excuses then! Would you not push them as much if you were riding everyday? - although I would probably want to alternate hacking out with schooling anyway.

As she is getting older and her schooling is progressing she is learning to carry herself better so I think now might be a good time to ask her to do a bit more. Not sure if we'll get up to 30 miles though!

As a rough idea, how long does a 6 mile ride with 2 miles trotting take? Not good at distances- will have to get the map out!

[flintfootfilly]

Vicky

I don't have a clue on fixed speed rides or timed rides - I'm only really into the ones where you just go round at your own speed, and not a serious mileage. I suppose I'm happy doing up to 20 miles, but wouldn't choose to go beyond that myself. Each to his own.

But the reason for this post is just to say we did a 12.8 mile pleasure ride recently, me and Megz, and had a fab time on it. Started about 7th I think, finished 2nd.... and my friend who was on the gate had the cheek to ask if we'd decided not to do the full route!!! Bloomin' 'eck - Megz can move when she wants!!

Anyway, I'm digressing again, but 12.8 miles took us 2 hours. Even I was a little bit surprised when I realised that. We certainly weren't rushing round, and I wouldn't have said we were doing race speed, but we enjoyed the ride, and did a good mixture of walk, trot and canter. Anywhere that was nice to canter, we did. Did a fair bit of trotting too, but not mile after mile. We just did lots of transitions. Had some chillout time, but mainly thought forward and got on with it. There were a few gates to open/close, but not loads, and the terrain wasn't particularly challenging - just a mix of fields, tracks and lanes. Very nice!

Sarah

[suew]

I did one years ago, it was fantastic, you'll really enjoy it. Managed to get my horse fit by riding round a local estate every night in the dark and a longer ride at weekends for about 6 weeks. I didn't think she would be fit enough but she flew round and passed the vet easily. He said she could have gone round again.

Be careful who you ride with though. I got put with a couple on Arabs who only walked and galloped. All I saw for the whole ride was the tail of the Palomino in front of me, my mare refused to leave it.

[dollylanedales]

Our local riding club do a Pleasure ride and you can choose to do 12 or 20 miles. They usually set you off in groups, so you are not all setting off at once. You can go as fast or as slow as you want. Our ponies can cope with this ride, as it covers the area we ride round, but I know some people who have done it and grumbled because of all the hills involved.

[dalesvic]

Hmm never really thought about doing pleasure rides before but hearing more about it, it certainly sounds like something I'd be interested in.

Sounds like you had a great time with Megz Sarah, she is obviously fitter than you gave her credit for! Just shows what a dales pony can do, without any shortcuts either!

What's the best way to find out about ones near me? Though I am rather afraid sammy will attach herself to a pony like you describe sue- we'll have to build up to it and maybe think about doing them next year.... something to aim for though!