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RE: [RC] [RC] Gaited Horses - Jennifer Adam


I agree with everything you said - but want to add that the American mustang deserves some credit as well. Although mustangs tend to be incredibly diverse and there are definitely some that are too bulky to excel as endurance horses, there are many that are built along the same lines as Arabians. They too have had to survive in a tough environment and generally have the stamina, bone, and hard hooves to prove it.
Just my 2 cents -
Jen and her wild horse herd :)

From: "Jim Holland" <lanconn@xxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [RC]   Gaited Horses
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 17:23:24 -0400

There is another issue that you should consider here when you decide to
participate in Endurance. That issue is the "physical capability" of your
equine of choice. There are individuals in every breed who can
"participate" in Endurance, and a few perhaps, who can "compete". However,
consider the impact on the longevity and soundness of your horse. Would 300
lb athlete be expected to excel as a distance runner? Would a 5'9" 145 lb
athlete be an appropriate choice for playing Guard in Football? What would
be the long term impact on the health and soundness of an individual who
chose to do this? Keep in mind, your horse does not HAVE a choice. The fact
that he CAN doesn't mean it's in the best interest of his long term welfare.

If most of your travel was in the desert or mountains over difficult
terrain, would you choose a Jeep/Hummer/4x4 truck? Or a Cadillac? Here's an
exerpt from a post some time back by Jonni that makes the point:

"The lighter muscling of an Arabian horse dissipates heat and lactic acid
more readily than other breeds. The larger flaring nostrils provide the
Arabian with maximum oxygen intake, and its large trachea allows for larger
lung capacity. Also, that pretty arched neck has a function besides looks,
in which it carries plenty of air to the lungs and helps keep the windpipe
clear. They have bigger, stronger hearts for their size, which pumps a
higher volume of blood. That blood runs through the blood vessels which are
very close to the surface than other breeds, covered by thinner skin, which
also aids in cooling the animal when it works. Last, the bone density is
known to be greater in Arabians than other breeds, with tougher tendons and
ligaments. All of these traits were bred for thousands of years, when the
horses were used in their country of origin, to travel great distances in
the harsh conditions. Those that did not hold up did not survive."

Susan Garlinghouse did a study at Tevis sometime back and I don't remember
all of it, but I do remember that the level of success had to do with the
TOTAL weight of the horse and rider. The small, compact Arabians, even with
a heavyweight aboard, did better on average than the heavier horses.

I have owned several breeds, even did a couple of 50's on a Quarter Horse,
mare, but I quickly learned by experience that game as she was, I was asking
too much. You may not be doing your horse any favors if you ask him to
compete in a sport where his physical characteristics and breeding are a
handicap. In Endurance, other breeds run "closer to the edge" than the
Arabian. In the words of Susan Garlinghouse, "He may not be over the edge,
but he can see it from where he is".

Remember, it's about the horse.....and he is YOUR responsibility. Don't let
your ego or your desire to "prove something" get in the way of the welfare
of your horse. I've seen it many times...it's not pretty and it won't get
you any kudos from your Endurance peers.

JMHO.

Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic

ichard T. "Jim" Holland
Three Creeks Farm
175 Hells Hollow Drive
Blue Ridge, Ga 30513
(706) 258-2830
www.threecreeksarabians.com
Callsign KI4BEN

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bruce Weary DC
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 1:15 PM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [RC] Gaited Horses

  Someone explained it to me this way one time: Amongst Arabs, probably
seven or eight out of ten candidates could probably do endurance riding
successfully. In another breed, say Tennessee Walkers, maybe only two or
three could do it. This is probably true of many of the non-Arab breeds.



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Replies
RE: [RC] Gaited Horses, Jim Holland