Re: Weak Loin

["Linda B. Merims" <lbm@naisp.net>]

At 01:47 PM 9/14/01 -0500, you wrote:

>... My first and only arab, the one I bought to do
>CTR and work up to Endurance has a problem with loin weakness.
>...However, every ride I've taken him on so far (I've had this horse
>since February) he's had moderate to severe loin soreness.  We just got back
>from a ride in OK, and he's so sore, you can't even touch his back (on the
>near side, the off side seems fine) without him dropping out from under your
>hand and/or threatening to bite.
>
>Am I pushing him too far to fast?  Is this a problem that's only going to
>get worse?...


It's funny you should bring that up.  The Pan Am Championship was
the first time I had a chance examine leading endurance horses
close up--especially during the Best Condition judging--and try
to assess their conformation to try to find any common thread
(bone, neck, chest, legs, feet, whatever...)

The one fact about their conformation that really stood out?
All of the horses standing for BC had uniformly *outstanding*
strong backs.  No dippyness behind the withers.  No dippy loins
(the curse of the Morgan breed).  Just these razor-straight,
level backs that blended perfectly into their rumps.

That's the main thing I took away with me--if I go looking
for an endurance horse that I want to be a serious candidate,
I am going to need to insist on an excellent back.

If I ever get my PAC pictures scanned in, you'll see many
examples, from the Red the winner to Karen Clark's horse:
beautiful strong backs.

Linda B. Merims
lbm@naisp.net
Massachusetts, USA