ridecamp@endurance.net: Short-backed horses for endurance

Short-backed horses for endurance

Joe Long (mail.hiwaay.net@HiWAAY.net)
Mon, 14 Aug 1995 19:39:41 -5000

Small, short-backed horses don't cover a lot of ground with each
stride?

Well, maybe not, but that's not the whole story.

Many's the time I would hear some rider brag about his horse's
"fantastic trot" as little (14.2) hand Kahlil and I cantered beside
him. Then, some miles down the trail, he sort of faded away ... and
Kahlil and I went on to finish in first place.

When he did trot, it always felt just fine to me. Oh, I've ridden
smoother, but I didn't post much on Kahlil -- mostly just "floated"
just above the saddle. A choppy horse can beat his own joints to
death -- Kahlil completed over 11,000 miles and is still sound today.

Many small horses have become legends in endurance. I believe a
small horse uses energy more efficiently and will generally last
longer, especially in tough mountain rides.

--

Joe Long Rainbow Connection Arabians PC/LAN Manager home of Kahlil Khai Calhoun Community College AERC Hall of Fame horse jlong@hiwaay.net 11,450 miles completed