Re: Horses

[Angstmufin <Angstmufin@aol.com>]

In a message dated 98-03-15 17:42:01 EST, you write:


cadair@prodigy.net wrote:
<< You know Heidi, when I first got into endurance, one of my mentors (who
 shall remain nameless) was adamant on the "fact" that a good endurance
 horse should be saved to do solely endurance rides. Well, you can
 condition. That person was so disgusted about me taking my mare on pleasure
 rides, camping on the Flattops, playing with cows that s/he direly told me
 I was ruining my horse (I loved it - ruining my horse, isn't that a switch?
 And I can't help but laugh when I talk to pleasure riders who worry that
 endurance riding will ruin my new horse.). Yes, my mare pigged out
 everywhere, drank everywhere, and took endurance in stride. 
 Cathy
  >>

How can a horse be properly fit and bomb-proofed while still not being dead
bored if all they do is endurance?  My 15-y/o Welsh section B (great breed for
endurance!!) also does Gymkhana and pleasure, plus he's teaching my little
brother (8 y/o) to ride, and he's won 10 championships in Hunter Pony and
preliminary dressage.  If this pony was not a gymkhana pony, pleasure pony,
hunter pony, dressage pony, and schoolmaster, he most certainly would not be
an endurance pony!  A tip for those who want the ultimate conditioning
plan--explore the horizons of riding!  You may think that learning lower-level
dressage and jumping won't help.  However, the skills in such sports are
essential for distance riding!  Training your horse to do some light gymkhana
or reining will sharpen both of you up, and will seriously come in handy for
those split-second on-trail emergencies.  (sharp, steep turns, sudden boulder
to avoid, etc.)  Ground work is also a big help in bomb-proofing.  Long
pleasure trail rides are mini-endurance rides in themselves.  So give yourself
an edge in endurance and do something other than endurance!
Sara