Re: RC: broodmares

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/11/99 8:19:43 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
michrowe@frontier.net writes:

<< I've never tried to convert a younger broodmare to a riding horse, and 
wondered how well this works.  Is it hard to get them back into condition?  
Do they retain that rounded motherly look?  Is there some noticeable 
difference between a riding mare who has not had a foal and a mare who has?  
>>

In earlier years when I had more energy, I used to start a lot of my 
middle-aged broodmares.  With the sort of exercise necessary to be top 
endurance contenders, they DID regain their "figures."  My most successful 
one was Sansih--started under saddle at 13, after 4 babies.  She was back in 
foal at the time.  I did one CTR on her, and 5 endurance rides.  Kicked her 
back out in the broodband, and she foaled at 14, 15, and 16.  I picked her 
back up at 17 and had her back in shape with intent to ride her myself, but 
had a teen-age foster daughter here who started the season on her and did so 
well with her that I didn't get on her again myself all year.  They did 
somewhere between 500 and 600 miles and made the AERC Junior Top Ten and were 
PNER Junior champs.  She was pregnant during that, so foaled at age 18.  That 
fall, since she was so close to her 1000 mile medallion, I said what the heck 
and rode a 75 and two 80's on her after she weaned her baby, to earn that.  
She was going well, so I decided to start in the next season on her (she was 
19)--I was PNER Reserve Champ and AERC Nat'l Top 25, with 18 rides, 17 Top 
Tens, and something in the ballpark of 1170 miles, give or take a few.  She 
foaled again at 20--she ran her last ride the year before at about 7-1/2 
months pregnant.

I've started several other mares in their teens and at least got them to the 
point of doing a few endurance rides or CTR's.  They are a lot of fun, but 
not at all like starting youngsters--they learn VERY fast, and they get bored 
with the routine stuff.  They seem to thrive on getting right out into the 
real world and DOING something.

Heidi


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