Re: [RC] Boy have we come a long way - Barbara McCrary
<<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 >> (This
was Ruth, referring to Kandar).
I have an interesting anecdote to offer on
Kandar. He was acquired from somewhere, I know not where, by my
sister-in-law (she lives close to us), who likes to buy horses, train them
and find suitable owners for them. Her idea of suitable partners doesn't
always work, however, as we all know. She sold Kandar to a young woman
whom I have known since she was about 5 years old. At the time, she was
renting a cabin about 1/2 mile from us and she was TRYING to ride Kandar.
Finally, she gave it up and Kandar was sold to Ruth Waltenspiel, who used to
come down to our area for the Swanton NATRC ride (just finished its 30th year,
originated and managed by my sister-in-law). So Ruth took Kandar home and
went to work on him. There was a great article about him and Ruth, many
years ago, in Arabian Horse World. She spoke of how her husband Ron used
to hunt wild pigs on their ranch and pack them home on Kandar, because his
Quarter Horse freaked out over having a pig carcass draped over his
saddle. Kandar was a small, good-looking bay horse, by Kubaishan X
Libra by Abu Raseyn. Ruth turned him into a NATRC champion.
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.
