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Re: [RC] The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race - rides2farWell Suzanne, You've joined the list now. Give it up. You're *going* to do endurance! g< Thank you for your input. I knew folks would suggest tights I've done endurance in jeans, etc. but always had plenty of "recovery time". If you plan on going day after day and will be adding insult to injury you'd better keep *all* the options open...tights, powder, etc. etc. I'd find pictures of somebody like Karen Chaton who can't seem to stop riding and do what they do! :-) Don't worry about what you look like. There's always *somebody* who looks worse. Black with no print on a black saddle is my choice to try to blend in to the background. :-P Tights should be tight. I've gotten little rubs from shifting tights but never from tight ones. and > probably> another saddle. The weight of the saddle isn't the big deal. The main things I"d be wary of on a western is the rigging too far forward so that a horse that's giving you an extended trot gets rubbing. Most endurance saddles have the girth set farther back. You can fake that by running your cinch down to the girth, then coming up and tying at the *back* ring. Also removes that knot from under your knee. The type of western saddle will matter. Some put you very much in a chair position and that would be the pits. An equitation saddle might get your leg under you better. If you have to lean forward to get over your feet your back is going to kill you. I've seen people use barrel racing saddles. Heck, I know a saddle builder who just saws the horn off a barrel tree to make an endurance saddle. I'd get some E-Z rides or some other type of deep endurance stirrups regardless. Best purchase I ever made. I used to ride western. I do endurance in an Ortho-Flex Express. It's got a western type seat with more English type stirrups that have no fender. No buckles under the leg, etc. It mostly needs to fit the horse, fit you, and let you ride correctly. Weight is not the top priority by any means. In preparation for the Santa Fe I will for sure be entering two 50 mile> rides this spring. Good idea. That will give you a chance to try stuff out with time to heal if they don't work. Shoeing is a HUGE deal. I'd really work hard at having my shoeing schedule hit just right for that thing. My goal is to gather as much > information as I possibly can about appropriate wear, gear, conditioning and tricks of the> trade. I'd go do PR's at a multi-day, watch and listen! I will for sure check out your newbie recommendations. I do have a book on endurance riding that I purchased years ago. Lots has changed since I started. Some of it will be up to date, some dated. Endurance saddles are so confusing, there are so many different types. Some> are padded some not etc, etc. Some actually do not look comfortable at all.> Is there a favorite brand that folks gravitate to? What brands do you advise> to stay away from. You may buy the greatest most expensive saddle out there but if it doesn't fit your horse that's not going to work. You'd do better to describe your horse's back...is he wide, high withered, etc. and ask what people have had luck with that with type of horse. Then, when they tell you how great they do with that one, look up their record and see if they've actually done anything. If you're taking three horses and one saddle, you've got to hope they're built somewhat alike. Do folks recommend chaps or 1/2 chaps for endurance riding? Today I've noticed people posting they ride in chaps. In 20 years of competition, I don't believe I have ever seen anyone do a ride in chaps. LOTS of us wear half chaps. I hope I do not clog up the list with> all of these novice questions. No problem! We'll try to help with your novice questions, you can hang around and be on call for DVM questions. >eg< Angie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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