ex-racehorse arabs

["Kristine Hammond" <tinka@reno.quik.com>]

Greetings Lif,

 

Lif wrote:

 

"No, you wouldn't be starting completely from scratch, but you would be
starting with a horse that has been conditioned for *completely different
sport* and has probably NOT received any LSD work.  So why not start with a
plow horse?  Or a roping horse?  Doesn't the quality and kind of base put
on an endurance horse matter?  Or are we going back to the concept of
endurance as a non-specialized sport in which "any old horse will do".

 

Well, I hope we are not going back to the concept of "any old horse will do!"

I do think that the quality and kind of base put on an endurance horse matters a great deal.

Any to shift this back to ex-race horses, I think they have one of the best base starts

that any athlete, human, canine, equine, or whatever can have.  This is INTENSIVE CARDIOVASCULAR

conditioning.  I think any well rounded athlete should start with a cardiovascular

conditioning program...........and continue with that program, advancing it as tolerated by

that particular individual.  And it should be maintained.  I say "SHOULD" but we all know that doesn't

happen in real life all the time.  A plow horse is not an athlete, and has an unsuited

body type for out sport.  Most roping horses I know also have an unsuited body

type for our sport, and have little or no cardiovascular conditioning, as it is really not perceived as needed

for an 8-12 second burst of speed.  I do know you made the comment about plow horses

facetiously, (I am really not that stupid), but felt it important to address it. And the majority of

the ex-race horses arabs are athletes, they do have the intensive cardiovascular conditioning which

provides a base for our sport, as well as track racing, and other equestrian sports. And the ex-race horse

arabs do have a suited body type for our sport!

 

This cardiovascular conditioning provides a lifetime base, making reconditioning the turned out for the

winter horse faster, and easier.  It makes the initial conditioning period (the LSD work you mentioned)

easier, I think, without having to worry so much about the cardiovascular conditioning.  Not that I would 

ignore that aspect, however, you need not devote as much effort to that aspect.  And clearing that vet check the

first time that P&R person checks our horse thrills everybody, I think!!

 

Well, enough said..........just my opinoun!!!  I would address other issues with you regarding ex-race horses,

I think there are 4 more very important reasons why ex-race horsese make excellent choices for

endurance horses, but am interested in what your previous questions were?  Let me know. Once

again, I don't think I am the best person with the most knowledge on this forum to address these issues,

but as you said, nobody else is answering you.  There are a lot more experienced people out there.

 

One more thing........at the end of the ride, coming in to the finish line and asking for more, my ex-race

horses have always given that "more" and still pulsed down within seconds of arriving. 

 

Tally Ho!

Kriss