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[RC] Racking horses for endurance? - Sue & Phil Gardner

 

 

From: Sue & Phil Gardner [mailto:slsf@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 1:46 PM
To: 'Patricia Clark'
Subject: RE: [RC] Racking horses for endurance?

 

Thanks for replying to my post.  I recently purchased a gaited Standard gelding.  He is the first non Arabian I have ever owned.  The reasons for getting him were twofold; 1- to have a horse that could travel with my wife’s MFT and 2- to have an easier gait for my comfort. 

 

He does what I would term a stepping pace and only goes into a true rack at higher speeds.  He also trots and canters though his go to gait is a stepping pace.  He is just now coming into condition and I am just starting to ask him to maintain gait for some distance.  I have ridden him 25+ miles in training and hope to take him on an LD on the 11th.

 

There are several things I am wondering about.  What are the P&R’s compared to an Arab?  Is the energy expended to maintain a gait the same as a horse trotting at the same speed?  How do their legs hold up long term for endurance work?  Is the stress placed on the joints, ligaments & tendons greater than a trotting horse experiences?  The thing that makes me wonder is that a trotting horse has two feel landing at the same instant, thus the shock spread to both legs.  A gaited horse has a four beat gait where only one foot is landing at a time.    

 

I love ridding this horse.  I have been ridding all my life and have just discovered these horses.  I have become fascinated by horses like EZD Falcon Rowdy.  It is reported that he is recorded on film hitting 51, yes fifty one, miles an hour is a short burst of speed!

 

Phil Gardner        

 

 

 

From: Patricia Clark [mailto:racknabout@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:21 AM
To: slsf@xxxxxxxxxxxx; Ride Camp
Subject: Re: [RC] Racking horses for endurance?

 

These horses are essentially Standardbreds crossed with racking horse stock. I just started an off the track Standardbred for endurance and he is looking quite promising. He has good recoveries, is sensible, big, long strided and very easy to get along with. He also has a nice trot, rack and pace, which allows for alternating gaits to suit the horse's comfort. I highly recommend Standardbreds! He is only four, so we'll be doing our first LD very soon.

Patricia
www.racknaboutstable.com
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