[RC] Conformation and Endurance Perfection - DVeritas
We all know that Conformation is just one of the predicates of horse
functionality and longevity.
Though starting with balance, straight lines and proper angles is a good
thing, unless the owner/rider understands just "what" they have, even perfect
geometry will eventually fail.
We've all ridden horses who had less than perfect conformation who somehow
were able to compensate with heart, durability and sociability, the result of
which made for pretty darn good endurance horses. (This is where the Great
Endurance Horses separate themselves from the pretty, well-turned-out horses who
appear on the trails and do quite well in fulfilling the aspirations of the
riders without ever becoming Endurance Legends.)
I'd rather ride a horse who "wants to," and needs some focused
management,
than a horse who "doesn't want to," never giving itself to the trail or
the rider.
Sometimes the sharing of the Quest for Endurance Success is
the true thing...and for that to happen, the horse should have more to give than
geometry.
