Let me add most horses on the East Coast will never make
it to 2500 miles. The area is so populated, our few rides are very
far apart (read: $200-$300 in gas to get to each ride), on national park
property usually (read: terrain so bad no one can build or farm on), and
our "season" can be a little short -- summers with 100' heat, and winters
without unsafe snow/ice.
Personally, 2500 miles would take me about 10 years,
add in the horse must be 5yo to start endurance = 15yo horse minimum.
Why? The closest ride to me is 5 hours away, if I compete in every ride
available to me within a days drive (12 hours), I could get around 300-400 miles
a year - assuming I *can* go to every single ride (no other committments, like
work + family and the horse is 100% 24/7. BTW this is impossible
as several rides are on the same day!) and complete every one. There are
many solid 15yo horses that could handle a fast 100, but many more in their
prime quite a few years earlier.
Those East Coasters that get to 2500 miles, are awesome
horse/rider teams, terribly dedicated, and on the road a lot!
Oh and wait, I believe the original post said 2500 FEI
miles.. oh geez .. there are two FEI rides in two days drive (that I know
of) Quebec + Florida. So that'd be 200 miles a year -- 13 years of riding
to get that 2500 miles = 18yo horse!
This really would put a lot of emphasis on taking good
care of your horse! (which is a good thing!)
Slightly boggled and definitely going to be 90yo with
Sheila before "making the cut",
Is that why the U.S. is getting their butts whipped? The other
countries are using young horses and riders and tossing the horses, when they
are hurt? I see the photos of the rides and I don't see any old farts
with classical riding form up on those front running horses......Perhaps
it's a good thing that the old farts don?t 'get tossed', eh? If I had to
do 2500 miles before I could ride at that level.........I might be 90 by
then.
