On another note--re QH's. I did a vacation ride in the Wind River Range
in WY a couple years ago--packed 75 miles in and UP (to 11500' +).
Incredible experience--fantastic horses, endurance coming out the
whazoo. I'd give my eye teeth for one of those old-line QH's. You never
see them advertised for sale--so I'm probably not looking in the right
place. Seems to me they'd fit the bill for the honest (that's me)
heavyweight rider. Feet the size of pieplates....
I feel that a gifted individual from ANY breed can do endurance--the
trick is finding that one particular horse. Heavyweight riders are at a
real disadvantage when it comes to riding Arabs. Yes, they can carry the
weight but I truly believe that a horse has only so many miles to give
and adding weight decreases that mileage considerably. That's why I'm
frantically looking for a cross with a QH, TB, WB, etc.
Feel for you folks in the NW--nobody deserves winters like this.
Stay warm...
Diane @ Safe haven
nelsonde@ttown.apci.com or
safehavn@fast.net