RE: [RC] small horses and endurance - Flora Hillman
Liz -
My 13 yr old Welsh/Arab is
AHSA carded at 14.1 hands, weighs 680 lbs (on the FEI scale at the May
2002 Biltmore 50/100 ride) and wears double aught (00) shoes
front and rear. His rider (me) is a FW at 5'2" and weighs 130 lbs,
but our tack (including carrying a farrier kit and lots of water) tends to
nudge us into the LW category every now and then at about 164.
My guy was also a "dainty"
boned pony when he came to me -- he was a very successful champion show
pony (carriage driving) since age 2 and had not been ridden until I
purchased him at age 9. I began conditioning him under saddle using
Long-Slow-Distance training plus hill work. As his new career for
endurance brought him into condition to compete in this more strenuous sport, I
couldn't help but notice (especially as the years advanced) that his leg
bone structure seemed to thicken and become more solid and stronger, and
less "china-like."
He did 2 LD's as our
entry into distance riding, and then moved into the 50's. He's completed
50's and 2-day 100's successfully, and (if the rains will ever stop
here in the NE!) is ready to move into the 75's and 1 day 100's this year, and
(hopefully) a multi-day (like the Michigan Shore to Shore -- if I can
arrange my schedule). He's never had a lameness issue during training, and only once
in competition when he torqued off a front shoe 9 miles into a 50
mile ride and hurt something obscure in his leg -- an injury that
miraculously healed on the 6 hour ride home so that when he stepped off the
trailer he could happily gallop, sound as a dollar and tail in the air,
out to see the rest of the home herd the minute we turned him out in the
pasture.
I've seen more light-weight Arab ponies do wonderfully
in endurance -- staying sound and happy --when they are started correctly.
Just ask Stagg Newman -- he's
a strong advocate on the "little guys" making the best endurance horses,
and his ponies have proved that again and
again.
And
re: your dressage friend ---
ignore her. Her reaction is not unusual. My dressage friends turn
pale at the thought of going for a 8 mile pleasure hack, let alone even
think of riding 25. Perish the thought of 50 miles -- they can't
fathom it. To them all endurance riders are completely insane. Period.
Even my eventing friends have a hard time coming to grips with endurance
distances, and I know several that compete at the international level, yet will
insist they have to trailer over to condition on a hill that is
only a easy, flat 3 mile hack away via gravel
roads. <shaking head in wonder>
So, if her legs are sound and
she has no hidden issues, I would say Winter should do quite well in
the 50's and on multi-day rides if you take your time to make sure
ALL your tack fits her properly and comfortably, train slowly but consistently
to leg her up properly, increase your distances gently, use hills to build the
wind and muscle, and watch the footing underneath her feet carefully.
Wait until she is strong enough to do the distances comfortably with you
before you ask her to carry your husband.
If you condition her with
consideration and care, she should be able to carry you, or your
husband, happily and soundly for miles and years to
come.
Best of luck to you both!
:-)
PS.
It's a shame the
AERC doesn't keep track of equine heights and weights in relation to rider
weights. Would be interesting to see what the statistics would show in
regards to placings, pulls, etc....
