Re: Endurance Movement

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/11/99 8:53:54 AM Pacific Standard Time, inuvik@magma.ca
writes:

<< I was told that Arabs move wide when extending to get their hind legs
 around that wide barrel.  Also with the short loin they have less room in
 which to get those hind legs out around the ribs. >>

There is some truth to this, as the old-fashioned style of Arab IS fairly
short in the loin and large-barreled, but there are several other traits
involved, too--for one, they don't do it unless they have a long, ground-
covering trot.  (The quote from Hilary Clayton was right on about the other
way to avoid interfering is to go up in the air, but that isn't the sort of
gait that we are after for endurance or that the Standardbreds are after on
the track, hence the wide gait behind is a better adaptation for both sports.)
Secondly, they also have to have the strength in the hindquarters (especially
the adductor muscles) to perform this manuever.  A certain amount of this is
natural, but for the horse to sustain this sort of movement for long periods
of time requires conditioning--just like anything else does.  Horses who do it
naturally will do it better and longer with conditioning, and many horses who
can't quite do it before they start to work will learn to do it in time as
they get in shape.

Heidi