The Older Horses

Since someone asked I'll post a word about the older horses, and please avoid expecting anything today as I'm suffering effects of catching up in the office till midnight and then compounding things by spending half the rest of the night on the internet chess boards. A haze prevails, but, I'll give it a try.

The oldsters are 12,12, and a 6 year old non-starter. Being so much further along they're more interesting right now than the two year old, with all three being Preston Burch guinea pigs for the moment.

Burch breezed his horses every three days with time and distance up to trainer judgment. What was done during the non-breeze days also is left up to trainer judgment. The program emphasizes speed work instead of volume, specific race prep instead of "getting in the miles".

Here is what 12 year old Groovin' Wind has done since the weather permitted galloping to begin May 3:

May 2007: galloped generally about 4 days a week 1.5 miles :18/f and did one day of extensive riderless speed work probably in the 2 x 7 f range all out.
June: Burch program begins with short under tack spurts every three days gradually lengthened and speeding up throughout June.
July 5: 4 x 2f at about :13 farm.
July 6 Rest
July 7 1.5 mile gallop at :19/f.
July 8 at Eureka 5f breeze in :14/f with 2f acceleration to :13.
July 9 rest.
July 10 1.5 mil gallop
July 11 4 x2.5 f at farm all out ("all out" at the farm varies with the turns and undulations. fastest we go averages about :13/f with short faster spurts here and there.
July 12 rest.
July 13 1.5 mile gallop :19/f
July 14 Eureka breeze--one mile about 1:50 with 2 x2f accelerations to :13/f. The 2f accelerations were divided with 1f on each lead.
July 15 rest.
July 16 1.5 mi. gallop :18/f
July 17 oops. 7 day cycle instead of 6 days. Unable to go to Eureka Fri. because they grade track. Make mistake of postponing breeze and going 2 x 1 mi. riderless at :16/f. After finishing decided "too much", and we'll postpone the breeze to Thurs. morning, screwing up the week with questionable planning.
July 18 rest
July 19 1 mile in :14/f at farm
July 20 rest
July 21 at Eureka 1 mile in :14/f. I plan this steady and strong. We'll see how he does.

Art Tues Night: 5 x 1 f riderless at 90% speed with oldster. Looked good!