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RE: [SPAM] [RC] starting the older horse - heidiWell, first of all, when I read the title of this thread, I was really surprised to open it up and find out that we are talking about a horse that is only 8 here! <g> I've started several in their teens, and one of those was one of the most successful endurance horses I've ever ridden. This horse is put together pretty well, but she is small. I like smaller horses, but I am concerned about her legs and feet. She is about 14.1 with a decent heart girth (bigger than some of my taller horses). Her cannons measure 7.25 and she has 00 feet all around. First of all, bone is proportional to weight, not height. This is perfectly adequate bone for a horse weighing up to about 825 lbs. Given her height, there is a good chance that she weighs that or less in good shape. I weigh around 135 " is it foolish of me to expect her to carry me through reasonably competitive 50s or possibly an occasional 100? Not foolish at all. Is that your weight with tack? I'll be pessimistic and assume that it is not, and figure she might be packing around 165 or so. That's likely less than a quarter of her weight, unless she is REALLY lacking in substance--which I doubt, given her bone measurement. Sounds like at least in terms of size and substance, the mare is more than equal to the task--if her conformation and metabolic capability suit, go for it! Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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