Sitemaps

How many mile can a fit Appendix Quarter Horse do in a day2007-11-24 21:15:45

I'm training my horse for an Endurance ride on the Trans Canada trail, that I'd like to do next spring. My horse is 7 year old Appendix Q.H, 15.3 hh about 1100 pounds good shape (will be in better shape by then). I'm not planning a full out gallop kind of ride, mostly at a walk and/or trot.

I haven't planed a route yet, so can't tell you what the tarrian is like, but i would think it would have a mixure of hills and flat ground (my plan would be mostly flater grounds)

Answers:

The more muscle mass, the harder it will be for your horse to remove toxin (a natural process resulting from exercise) from his body, so a heavier more bulkier Quarter Horse would not be able to go as fast or far as a Thoroughbred type Quarter Horse. I ride Appaloosa Horses in Endurance and Competitive trail rides all over the U.S. And I think that if your horses is condition properly and you are too, that you could cover 25 to 30 miles a day. I would shorten the mileage if there were a lot of hills,rock or deep sand. I would spend 2/3 the tine walking and 1/3 the time trotting,I think this would be a good pace. watch your horses attitude and make sure he drinks a lot of water. Stop and get him water every couple hours. let him eat as you ride or stop every couple hours to let him drink and graze for a while. You should pack along a small salt block and take along electrolytes. I would probably rest every 5th day.

I hope you go ahead and take your trip,don't let anyone tell you it dumb or impossible. Just follow your dreams where ever they take you. There was an artical on David O'connor's Frist cross-country ride, in the April 2007 issue of Equus. David was 11 when his mom took him and his older brother on a 3000 mile trip across the U.S. from east coast to the west coast. Its a good story and you may find some of the information of vaule to you on your trip.Good luck and I hope follow your dreams.

---

i would say the best thing to do would be just to run it untill you notice it slowing or tireing, i assume you would know how to tell, day by day he will be able to go longer and longer

---

It sounds like he would be ok, you said he will be in shape, and it will be flat grounds mostly, and walk & trot. I would just have a vet come and check him before you go.