breeds in endurance

["John & Sue Greenall" <greenall@vermontel.net>]

I agree that breeds other than Arabs can be competitive in 
endurance, BUT, an exceptional individual does not make the 
breed.  I have seen a Hackney/Clyde cross whip the pants off of 
Arabs at 50 miles.  Wet saddle blankets does not necessarily 
make the horse if they don't have the right stuff to start with.  After 
4000 miles of competition, my Morgan still cannot recover like 
most Arabs.  I have a warmblood with a resting pulse of 32, but she 
cannot recover like most Arabs.  I also have an Arab that recovers 
slower than the Morgan!  
When you are playing a game where recovery is part of the 
competition, it can be a strong point or a weak point. Even among 
Arabs and Half-Arabs, there are those individuals that recover faster 
than others. Recovery is not ALL of the game, there are plenty 
more areas where ride strategy can make or break you.  Simply 
ride to your horse's advantages, whatever they might be.  I feel as 
riders that we are putting way too much emphasis on pulse rather 
than looking at the entire picture.  In that, I feel that the Arabian 
breed is more suited to the sport than most other breeds.  Getting 
into a breed war is a waste of good horsemanship.  
John and Sue Greenall
mailto:greenall@vermontel.net
http://www.vermontel.com/~greenall


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