quizzie
Well-Known Member
Following on from some recent discussions I have had, I would love to hear people's views on how much difference they think a hilly course makes to the level of fitness required xc, versus a relatively flat course......assuming that other factors such as technical difficulty & ground conditions were similar.
Maybe I should also say that I am really talking about courses of 5 minutes plus, at a level of intermediate/2* or higher, as I feel that below 5 mins and/or below intermediate most horses can cope without specific/intensive fittening programmes.
For example:
Brightling CIC** has a big hill towards the end of a 6 min course,horses finish tired
South of England CIC** has slightly less of a hill, in the middle of a slightly shorter course, & seems to tire horses a little less.
Houghton CCI** is relatively flat, but 9-10mins.
Osberton CCI**, also relatively flat, lots of horses made the time last year, 9 mins +.
So.....do the hills require more fitness, or does the prolonged time? Has anyone ever published "return to normal" heart rate times after the different types of courses? I know they have put HR monitors on some riders, but have they done it on the horses?
Maybe I should also say that I am really talking about courses of 5 minutes plus, at a level of intermediate/2* or higher, as I feel that below 5 mins and/or below intermediate most horses can cope without specific/intensive fittening programmes.
For example:
Brightling CIC** has a big hill towards the end of a 6 min course,horses finish tired
South of England CIC** has slightly less of a hill, in the middle of a slightly shorter course, & seems to tire horses a little less.
Houghton CCI** is relatively flat, but 9-10mins.
Osberton CCI**, also relatively flat, lots of horses made the time last year, 9 mins +.
So.....do the hills require more fitness, or does the prolonged time? Has anyone ever published "return to normal" heart rate times after the different types of courses? I know they have put HR monitors on some riders, but have they done it on the horses?