Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Standardbreds in Endurance (long)

I ride a Standardbred mare named TR Solitaire...and she is the second love of 
my life!  Intelligent, willing, able, strong, sensible, capable, and 
WOW...whatta trot!  Have been conditioning her for less than a year now, but 
she has 100 miles under her saddle (two 50 mile rides - no pulls so far).  
Her recovery times can still be a little on the slow side, but they have been 
improving quite steadily.  She is just under 6 years old - and was rather 
sedentary before I got her, so I figure we'll just keep conditioning and 
riding as long as she isn't complaining.  Complaining, however, is something 
you'll rarely get from a Standardbred.  She is my second mare of this awesome 
breed - the first was a pacer and when we had to put her down last year, it 
about broke my heart.  This one a trotter.  Have clocked her "racing trot" at 
25mph - and she wasn't really going all out!!!!  I have been working her out 
with my wife and her stout little Arab boy and she is now learning to trot in 
"Arabic" - at about 8 to 10 mph - and can sustain that pace quite a bit 
longer while staying in a good aerobic range.  I highly recommend the breed 
for all of these reasons - aside form the fact that she is quite a looker in 
my eyes.  :o)  Hope that persuades some others to try a Standardbred - the 
best kept secret in the equine world!  We are going for 150 career miles at 
the Norco ride next week (PS).  Keeping my fingers crossed for her - and 
hoping our conditioning and nutrition programs (thank you Tammy from 
Trail-Rite) show some results!  If you ride a Standardbred, or a Standardbred 
cross, I would LOVE to hear from you.

Scott  (who is avoiding the "helmet discussion" altogether this time.  :o)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=