Re: RC: How old is too old?

["Janet Benke" <qhjanet@hotmail.com>]

Amanda - Take the gelding!  You've heard from a few other campers to do so, 
too.. I'd suggest the following:  Plan out a set route which you'd want to 
cover in an hour under a good trot.  Include some hill work, up and down 
(where are you may make a difference, of course), obstacles (rocks, trees), 
and a water stop if possible.  Walk the gelding through the route, or very 
light and little trotting.  Time his first couple of time, note his response 
to the different terrain and challenges.  Gradually motivate him to improve 
on his speed.

I've got a great route that, when the horse is in good shape, will take 
under an hour; when we are not in shape, it takes longer, and that tells me 
what we need to do, even gives me an idea how long it will take to get him 
back up into competitive condition.  By competitive, I mean making a try for 
top ten.  Otherwise, a ride has to be as a conditioning ride, not 
competition.  (So far this year I've not had much opportunity to get to any 
rides; there is always next year, and we do ride weekends now, for fun, and 
for conditioning.)

If you use the same route, then you can judge his condition each time for 
his response to the specific challenges it offers.  Once he is in good shape 
and takes the route in an hour with no problem, extend it.

Of course it is fun to go out of the route, and try new areas, and we do 
that to keep both of our interest up.  At 18, he still finds the great 
outdoors full of adventures.  He's especially fun to ride a dusk.

>From: Amanda Perez <amandaperez@ureach.com>
>Reply-To: <amandaperez@ureach.com>
>To: Ridecamp@endurance.net
>Subject: RC:  How old is too old?
>Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 16:53:26 -0400
>
>   I have come across a 16 YO 15.2 hh arab gelding for sale for
>a reasonable price (teenaged owner forced to sell because
>paents can't afford the baord).  This horse has not been used
>for endurence and has not been riden alot recently.
>
>Is 16 too old for a horse to be considered an endurence
>prospect, assuming the horse is sound and has an OK
>conformation? I am not lookig for an elite level horse, just
>something I could get into endurence with and hope to finish.
>
>Thanks.
>
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