Re: RC: re: Stride Length

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 4/22/99 9:15:04 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
sbrown@wamedes.com writes:

<< Okay...now *I'm* foggy as well.  Are we talking about suspension (hang
 time) -- or stride length due to shoulder angle and bone lengths -- or
 excessive action in the legs -- or a major case of impulsion from the rear
 end?  I thought a longer "hang time" was good since it led to less
 footfalls and therefore less concussion. >>

No, Sue, you aren't quite foggy here.  There is impulsion that drives the 
horse forward, and there is stride length due to correct proportions and 
angles--those are likely GOOD things, and lead to a "hang time" that causes 
the daisy-cutter stride.  Where the problem lies is in horses whose so-called 
"impulsion" just springs them up in the air (too much thrust and too much 
force on landing), the excessive leg action, and mismatched angles, where a 
horse with a powerful rear has more impulsion than his front is built to 
handle or a strong front with a poor rear which also causes him to be out of 
synch with himself.  In my experience, a horse with mediocre front and rear 
that match will stay sound (even if he isn't a real champ) far longer than a 
horse with either an outstanding front and poor rear or visa versa.  
Actually, I think the poor fronts with good rears are about the worst, 
because they literally drive their fronts into the ground.

Heidi


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