Check it Out!    
RideCamp@endurance.net
[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next]
[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index] [Subject Index]

Re: RC: Spanish Mustangs: learning curve

Sally, your horse has a HUGE rear end and she certainly does not have
straight hocks or stifles.  *I*'d breed an Arab to her in any second! :) 
At any rate, I think Laney is partly right, at least as far as I got in
teh post (I have too many to read tonight! ) 
I was kind of surprised about the problems you described. However, Laney,
Sally has done a tremendous job with those mustangs she has- you should
have known here a few years back when they were tough as nails... She's
taught them how to be civil and turned that mare into a really nice
horse. And she's learned more than most people would care to know about
their horses... NOt a slam on you, by any means, but I do know Sally
personally and she is VERY careful about how and what she does with her
tack. 
I do think that in some cases Neoprene can cause chafing- if it's not
particularly slick when it goes on or the horse doesn't work up enough of
a sweat... Who knows. 
Gwen

---- Begin included message ----
Hi Sally -
    I also have a Spanish Mustang so I'll take this opportunity to defend the breed.  IMHO you have just described conformation features that can be found in all breeds.  It's true that Spanish Mustangs aren't built like the breeds we see more often but that doesn't mean they can't get the job done.  (I happen to think they can get more jobs done better than a lot of others!).  Before you blame your horse's weak rear end why not also look at saddle fit, girth fit, and your riding.  I changed girths the other day and Dino just wasn't moving in his usual way (he is one that floats up and down hills in spite of his "small" rear end).  I assumed it was because he was wearing a breast collar for the first time but when I unsaddled him I saw that the girth had pinched and rubbed sore spots on both sides - boy, did I feel bad!!!!
    Deb Bennett has a lot to contribute but like all other "experts" should be taken with a grain of salt.  And focus on the horse in front of you, considering more than just textbook conformation (or pedigree in reference to another recent thread!).  I agree that there are different types of Spanish Mustangs/American Indian Horses/Spanish Barbs and also some are built better for endurance while others work best at other jobs - just like in other breeds - and, hopefully, we won't ask any horse to do a job it can't do.
    Deb Bennet has been very enthusiastic about Spanish Mustangs but I don't think Dino would get high marks in her conformation books even though he has one type of classic SM looks which make him appear heavy on the front end even though he isn't at all: his neck is thick at the base. But his shoulder is incredible and, because his croup is low and sloping, he can really get his rear under himself.  He doesn't look like an arab but he's a joy to ride on the trail and at the moment his job at 4yo is babysitting my friend's 6 yo arab mare as she gets started on the trail.  Dino has always gone everywhere and confronted everything with bravery and good sense.  (Can you tell I love this horse?!!!?)
Three cheers for  Spanish Mustangs!
Laney
 
 
  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
---- End included message ----
    Check it Out!    

Home    Events    Groups    Rider Directory    Market    RideCamp    Stuff
Back to TOC