Re: RC: Petite Mount

[Lif Strand <fasterhorses@gilanet.com>]

At 09:16 PM 5/14/00 -0700, Susan wrote:
> This little mare is about 13.2hh, and is about
> 6 years old, she has grown about 1 inch in the last year. 

The vets on this list would know more than me, but I would wonder if the
mare is really 6, or if she should be doing much competition till she is
truly mature, whether she is 6 or not.  You know, sort of if it
looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it might as
well be a duck.  If she looks like a yearling, I would treat her
like she was a yearling.  

If this mare was mine, I'd follow the LSD (Long Slow Distance) method for
a minimum of 2 or 3  years.  Generally you figure on it taking
3 years for bone to condition, 2 years for tendons & ligaments, and 1
year or less for the musculature & cardio-vascular system.  If
you are in particular concerned about her bone, I'd definitely recommend
taking the time.  You know that rule of thumb with horses (and if it
isn't a rule of thumb, it SHOULD be):  The more time you take in the
beginning, the more time you'll get out of your horse at the end. 
In other words, take your time now & you won't shorten your mare's
life because of injury, degenerative disease, etc.  Lif

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