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I have wondered about this myself from time to time, and the only real
conclusion that I have come up with is that good breeding and early training
and all the things that show homes pay for don't *necessarily* translate
into a good endurance horse. Sure, conformation and general soundness are
important, but you can often find them quite cheaply (at least in Australia)
in a "backyard horse" that has had nothing done with it. And that horse is
just as likely to turn out to be a "star" (one of those freaks that just go
and go and go) than the best bred horse you can buy. Endurance ability
doesn't *seem* to be passed on as reliably or consistently as some other
traits like a pretty head (which probably means we just haven't studied it
enough yet). And although paying top dollar for a well-bred show horse might
minimise your risks of having a dud, it doesn't necessarily follow that the
same applies to endurance horses. You really can't tell how well a horse
will perform in endurance until you get out there and put the training in.
That wonderful-looking horse just mightn't have what it takes, in attitude
or whatever. So I guess if you are taking the same risks with a cheap horse
as with an expensive one, why buy the expensive one? OTOH, I would expect to
pay big biccies for a qualified endurance horse that had already proved
itself. And if I was trying to sell horses to the endurance market I would
be taking them out and putting them through their novice rides before I put
them up for sale so I could be justified in asking for what I thought they
were worth.
Nik & the Gang (Taaj, Saki & Dippa) in Australia
nikkiw@agrecon.canberra.edu.au OR
nikkiw@science.canberra.edu.au
Canberra, AUSTRALIA
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