I purchased a May of 1975 Arabian Horse News from
e-bay (looove that site!) because it featured endurance riding. Haven't read it
all yet but one article titled "Stories of Champions" is very interesting. They
feature Storm of Tara, owned by Tom and Diana Gaither, Witezarif, owned by Mr.
and Mrs. Pat Fitzgerald and Kandar, owned by Ruth Waltenspiel. These were all
top endurance horses at that time.
One type of feeding program was described as "one
small flake of oat hay and one of alfalfa morning and night." One part rolled
oats, half part rolled corn and rolled barely and one quarter part soybean meal.
While traveling or competing the feeding program changes to just oat hay. The
night before a ride 3 flakes, but none the morning of the ride as the rider
doesn't want the horse running on a full stomach. However, the horse get 2
pounds of grain in the am, 2 at lunch and 2 in the evening.
Another feeding program was top quality alfalfa hay
fed free choice at all times during the working months with grain being stared
only in early summer. The horse on this particular feeding schedule won the
Tevis 4 years in a row. He won 8-100 mile rides and finished Top 10 in 17.
Interesting.
All three horses were 14.3 or smaller. One training
schedule was described as starting in early spring, covering 10, then 15 and 20
miles EVERY OTHER DAY! The rider said it was important that this portion of
training be strictly adhered to as the horse and rider are conditioning each
other. Wow!
One rider said the key to her success was to losing
35 pounds and switching to a lighter english saddle. ( A lot of pictures show
riders in big western saddles and western gear) This horse was the 1974
Presidents cup winner. He was ridden over 1,000 mile that year and never lost a
shoe, was sick or lame.
I will be reading The Tevis Cup article and the 300
Mile Enduraner Ride of 1919 next.
One page advertisment listed Al Nimr for sale for
$40,000 and a breeding to Phazon (Ferzon X Phleta) for $1000.
