Discussing the 20% weight rule

[tallyho!]

The Tevis Cup? Top of my bucket list. One day......!

The pictures look amazing don't they? This one scares the two sheets out of me!!!

Wow... I guess not just the horse has to be fit.. your bottom has to be too to do 100miles a day...

And this... aaaarrrgh!!

 

[ArabianGem78]

My idea of heaven! I've done 120km - just 40km more to go.....

 

[Wagtail]

OMG! Tallyho! Is that horse shod with wedges?

 

[tallyho!]

Yes definitely wagtail! Hasn't the owner heard of boots???!!!

At least the rider is wearing a hat... most others sport a red bandana...

 

[clippi]

Oh to do the Tevis Cup

Only need to double the distance I've been competing at.

Ging bakc to the original thread. I really wouldn't want mine carrying 30% certainly not for long distances. It's bad enough like someone mentioned about teh minimum weight required for starred rides or the arab horse marathon. it would mean carrying nealry a stone of dead weight

 

[JFTDWS]

The pictures look amazing don't they? This one scares the two sheets out of me!!!

Wow... I guess not just the horse has to be fit.. your bottom has to be too to do 100miles a day...

And this... aaaarrrgh!!

H&S/shoeing etc aside, I think this looks awesome

 

[tallyho!]

You could be the first highland pony team to do it JFTD!!

 

[Arabelle]

I know someone who has ridden the Tevis twice. It sounds amazing - very different to endurance in this country. You have 24 hours to finish and it is a point to point route. In this country most 160kms are run on a cloverleaf route, regularly coming back to venue. Much faster but not the same challenge as the Tevis. I would love to ride the Tevis (have ridden 160km in UK).

On the issue of weight, I never took my talented wee mare international because I didn't want her to have to carry the extra weight. I would need to carry lead, so it would be dead weight, as well. I would rather do what was best for my pony than meet my own desires at her expense, hence she is still competing sound at 19. I think if you want to get a long career out of a horse it is wise not to push the weight limits.

I know some people really struggle with their weight, so I don't want to be too judgmental as I have always been lucky in that department, but the pictures of BigBen on her horse do make me uncomfortable. Sorry, but I wouldn't put a lot of extra weight on my mare for the sake of my international ambitions so I think that gives me some right to say that I don't think that you were doing your lovely horse any favours. However, as you say you have lost weight since then, well done you and keep it up

 

[Arizahn]

When will humanity realise that mountains are not our friends???!?

Some amazing riding there. I like riding through forests myself...but you'd never convince me to go up a slope like that!

 

[Big Ben]

Hoorah! Good news! Hope you have an enjoyable session with him

LOL, maybe not this week, have the truck fixed, trailer loading issues sorted out, I'm down another pound, feeling fitter and stronger, and now we have yet another freaking winter storm barrelling across towards us.

They can't predict the track yet so I hope it goes north of us.

As to riding in the mountains, not for me, no matter what size shape or level of fitness I am, you wouldn't catch me doing that one, no siree.