Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

>  I think that the reason you often see horses not "built to do the
> >  distance" give a CTR a try, is they are looking for something else to
> do with
> >  their horses, rather than go around in circles in an arena. I
>
> Let me restate that. I'm not suggesting that NATRC (that's the only CT
> I've been exposed to) horses are "inferior". There are definately some
> darned good ones. I was trying to point out that their general population
> of entries may be at a disadvantage as compared to endurance because the
> people with borderline extreme muscling horses choose them. So, though we
> may ride them faster, the fact that they might have more horses
> predisposed to problems may bring the stress level overall closer
> together. Is that clear as mud? :-P

In 50+ NATRC rides that I have ridden or been involved with, I have 
only seen one horse that needed jugging.  It was in 1991 at a desert 
ride in 110 degree heat and an arrogant bastard overrode his Novice 
horse in defiance of the ride pace (which was set at about 3 mph -- 
he was going in gait at about 6 mph, faster than even the Open pace) 
and against the warnings and advice of the P&R people at the three 
morning P&Rs.  He was pulled by the ride vet at lunch.

Sadly, this person was in my breed -- but not after I filed a protest 
and told his ranch partner what I witnessed <g>.  The horse was still 
alive and sound two years ago when I talked to its current owner. 
The horse was fit enough to do the ride -- as the ride was designed.
--


Lynn KInsky, Santa Ynez, CA
http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky/

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