You have two nice sounding Arabs. Since you are a timid rider, I'd
suggest that you start with a competitive ride rather than an
endurance ride. The start of an endurance ride can be quite
"exciting" particularly the first time for you and the horse.
I'd also suggest that you try both your horses in a couple of rides
each. This way, you can find out how they behave at the rides.
Size is not as important as the over all conformation of the horse.
Can't say over the net just which one you would be happier with.
You want a smooth ride. And you want a horse you can control.
Your dressage training will help you and the horse out alot.
Since both your horses are young (must be 4 to start, 5 to do 50 miles,
and they'll keep going well into their teens), you need
to start slow. This would be another reason to start with the
competitive rides. They set the pace rather than you. In an
endurance ride, it's easy to get over excited and go for the win
on time if your horse seems able to do so.
>
> I have a small Arabian breeding farm and am interetsed in trying competitive
> trail or maybe endurance with a 5-year-old mare I own. She is about 13.3h.
> Her sire is the imported pure Polish stallion *Decade (Partner x *Forsa, the
> Oaks winner) and her dam is a Ferzon/*Raffles/Witez cross with Babson on the
> bottom. She loves to trot, and moves like a hunter. She's very calm, doesn't
> spook. I've been trained dressage (very much lower level). I read in one of
> the Arabian magazines that the smaller horses seem to be better suited to
> competitive trail.
>
> I also have a six-year-old mare who's 15.1, but a bit too hot for my taste.
> She is Crabbet/Egyptian, with 3 crosses to *Kabara/*Count Dorsaz. I feel she
> would be better suited to endurance, but I am a timid rider, having had a
> bad fall a few years ago. This mare is tireless.
>
> Any advice would be welcome.
>
> Susan Felker
> Black Ridge Arabians
> Floyd, VA
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Wendy Milner HPDesk: wendy_milner@hp4000 Training Development Engineer HP-UX: wendy@fc.hp.com Mail Stop 46 Telnet: 229-2182 3404 E. Harmony Rd. AT&T: (970) 229-2182 Fort Collins, CO, 80525 FAX: (970) 229-4292