Technically, endurance rides are races. However, many riders participate simply to finish rather than try and win or even place. To these riders the satisfaction of completing the ride on a sound horse is the prize.
Six-year-old Samantha Fisher, from Fort Collins, Colorado, and her 26-year-old mare Tupelo Honey Tu+, competed in the Sturgis 30-mile Horse Endurance Ride in 2012.
On endurance rides, horses must pass through veterinary check-up stations at several points along the way to ensure that the horse’s heart and respiratory rates, and temperatures are maintained within safe limits.
At these check points, the veterinarian records the baseline heart rate, 64 beats per minute (bpm), then the horse is trotted out 35 m and back the same distance.
1. What is the total distance the horse is trotted out?
This exercise elevates the heart rate by 50 – 70%.
2. Assuming the baseline heart rate, if the heart rate became elevated by 50% after the horse was trotted out, what would the horse’s heart rate be?
During the trot the veterinarian evaluates the horse’s gait for soundness. One minute after the horse has trotted, the heart rate is taken again. The horse is determined to be fit to continue if the second heart rate is no higher than the baseline value.
Sam and Tupelo, her sister Taylor and grandmother, Linda Fisher
3. If a horse’s heart rate is found to be 68 bpm one minute after the horse is trotted out, will they be allowed to continue?
Horses must pass a final veterinary inspection after the finish before medals are awarded so as not to reward riders who push their horses too hard. Horses which do not pass this final inspection are disqualified.
If your horse or pony can travel one kilometre in six minutes and you are capable of riding for over two and a half hours you are ready to participate in rides like Samantha and Tupelo Honey Tu+.
How to calculate a horse’s heart rate is covered in the Level 1 Workbook.
1. What is the total distance the horse is trotted out?
Answer: 35 + 35 = 70. The horse trots 70 metres in total.
2. Assuming the baseline heart rate, if the heart rate became elevated by 50% after the horse was trotted out, what would the horse’s heart rate be?
Answer:
Step 1: 64 x 50% = 32
Step 2: 64 + 32 = 96. The horse’s heart rate would be 96 bpm.
3. If a horse’s heart rate is found to be 68 bpm one minute after the horse is trotted out, will they be allowed to continue?
Answer: 68 bpm is higher than the allowed rate. The horse would not be allowed to continue.
Photos: Compliments of Kenlyn Arabians