Re: Is There A Best Breed

["Duncan Fletcher" <dfletche@gte.net>]

Well said. I hope this post generates as many responses as the PasoFino
thread. I have heard it said that the Arabian tends to have well sprung ribs
creating larger lung capacity. I have heard that the smaller horse handles
heat better. Certainly as matter of physics, the smaller the object of a
given shape the greater the surface area for eliminating heat. But does this
translate into a better endurance horse? What characteristics are most
important?

There are certainly more Arabs out there to choose from than say Peruvians -
perhaps 14,000 registered since the early 60's and of course many long dead.
I would suspect the Arab is on average a better endurance horse, but that
bias which is commonly held may be the reason Arabs are successful  - riders
wanting to challenge for top ten won't chance another breed.

Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net

-----Original Message-----
From: urracing <urracing@elknet.net>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Monday, January 05, 1998 2:49 PM
Subject: Is There A Best Breed


>To everyone out there....
>                                          I think any breed of horse can be
>successful in competitive riding..The horse should be judged as an
>individual not as a breed. If the horse is condusive to that type of
>athletic  competition and is properly conditioned to do so he can be
>successful. How do you determine what makes a good competitive horse.? Do
>you have any standards to go by.? What do you look for in a horse to
>determine if he has what it takes to be successful.? Size...weight ...
>conformation....breed...heart....temperment....? Do certain breeds do
>better because there are more of them out there competing.?  Give the other
>breeds a chance. Everyone should be heading towards the same goal
>regardless of the breed.Competition should be fun..!! Offer help to others
>like me who are new to the sport and want to learn all about it..
>                                            Elaine ....From Wi.
>