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RE: [RC] NSH in endurance/CTR - PotatoConsider this a stupid question if you like but I must ASK! I figured out the Arab part. JUST WHAT IS A "NSH"? Potato -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Jon.Linderman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 9:14 AM To: nancy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; So_Cal_Endurance@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] NSH in endurance/CTR I used to write for the NSH magazine. My wife owned & showed NSH's & I own a NSH who has 1,000 endurance and CTR miles combined. I'd like to point out that there are some common misconceptions about what constitutes a NSH. First, not all NSH's are 1/2 arabs. People have gotten almost violent over this statement. According to the NSH breed standard, by "blood" a NSH can be anywhere from 25% to 90% arabian, the remainder ASB. In the case of my guy both parents are registed 1/2 arab 1/2 asb's NSH's. Such breeding is usually temed a "straight" NSH. Also, many successful english-type NSH's competing today exclusively in NSH classes are 3/4 asb's, and as such would be ineligible to compete as 1/2 arabians in any sport. Further, the approved stallions list is fairly selective and pretty short, so what many people think is a NSH is a 1/2 arabian who's other parent is an asb. I too have a list in mind of really nice arab/asb's, varying in % of each, who have done well in CTR and endurance. Most were arab/asb mixes that found there way by hook or by crook into our sport, but more were simply arab/asb crosses than NSHs. A registered NSH who does well in endurance is frankly a failure as a NSH. Not a failure as a horse and certainly not a failure to me, but by breed standard a failure. By breed standard a NSH is supposed to have the action for English Pleasure, Country Pleasure, or 3-gaited, whether under saddle or in harness, and some are also made into 5-gaited horses. Even the western pleasure NSH classes require a headset much higher than 1/2 arab western classes according to USEA rules, at least the last I checked. The core of the NSH community disdains western pleasure and hunter classes. A successful western pleasure or hunter NSH, even sweepstakes nominated, will often bring less than an unproven english pleasure NSH at auction. Just check the Addis numbers. So IF indeed you are looking at an NSH, where the goal for that horse was to show it in NSH classes I'd be careful. As I am sure you aware there are all kinds of tricks with shoeing, bands, etc, to get that "gaited" action. The NSH shoeing rules are much more open than arab rules and this might lead to soundness issues down the road. Some of the NSH core is also allied w/the Renai gang which espouses "open shoeing" rules (you interpret what that means) and no drug testing. I love my horse, except for his goofy name: Spffits, aka Spiffy. Yes, he has flaws, but so do many (most, all?) horses. I consider myself lucky to know his history fairly well. Though bred from one of theNSHR hall of fame stallions, my horse was a dud in the ring and quickly fell into the hands of an older lady who treated him with the utmost kindness and patience. She hand walked him on metro park trails for 6 months before ever trail riding him & even then they only walked. Once a year she comes up from FL just to see him. He retains some of the residual gaited action, but as his back and hind quarters have grown stronger, hes lost some of that inefficeint and uncomfortable gait. To date my horse has done well. Well for me means he completes. Hes very sound, thanks largely to alot of solicited advice from our frequent ride vet Maureen Fehrs. In contrast, many unsolicited sugestions simply would not work given some of his conformaitonal characteristics more common to his breeding. He has the longer back, but after some time working there and with saddle fit its been a non-issue. Shoeing has been somewhat problematic, IMHO unique to his very steep shoulder and hip angles. But, he is very forward moving and willing w/a very fast walk. He is said to have good bone & all but 25 of his miles hes carried a true HW rider. I can't tell which moments I blame on the arab and which on the asb, but while HR recoveries for endurance are fine, cutting hairs in CTR to get that sub 42 HR just hasn't been a reality. Perhaps this is due to the fact that his gene pool of arab blood may not be as strong as say a 1/2 to 3/4 arab. Another benefit I discoverd is that NSH trainers who also train ASB's frequently employ cart training. My guy was broken to a cart somewhere in his show training and I now train him w/a cart quite often....wheeeeeeeeeeee! Would I buy another NSH? Not sure. I'd certainly buy a 1/2 or 3/4 arab, IF, he had the qualities I wanted and needed. But if he had an extensive show history in say 3-gaited or english pleasure I'd likely pass. Spif's been a fun project & w/every completion and compliment I am reminded of an all knowing CTR rider who told me to get rid of him because w/his asb blood he'd never amount to anything. I love the fact I didn't listen to her! Jon =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. 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