RE: RAFFLES & GAITED HORSES: I got a mare in the late 80s that was
Raffles lines, old Crabbet and Polish. Back then, to say you had
Raffles was taboo because they are known to be skittish and to blow
up....at least that was said then. This mare has an incredible trot and
a sane brain. Bigger horses even had to canter to keep up. I was
clocked at the trot at 14 mph on her and and she has very low
recoveries. The gait was efficient. She won the last 7 rides in a row
that she completed. One thing that I haven't seen mentioned on
RideCamp, as far as the extended gaits is that it takes awhile for the
horses to figure it out. In her case, it was more than a year. She is
only 14'3 but moves large. And does to this day. I have pulled her out
of the pasture and won a 5-day on her. The only reason she is not still
out there doing rides is that she slipped in the pasture and now her
saccariliac (horrible spelling gads!!!) sits about 2 cm lower on the
right side. It took several pulls and 4 vets to figure this out. I
like 100s and she would start getting lame at 80 miles or so.
IF ANYONE HAS A SOLUTION TO THAT, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IT BESIDES AN
ELEVATED SHOE ON THAT SIDE, I TRIED THAT. (Dane Frazier, if you are
reading, I would love a note from you....Ray Randall tried to help me on
this...he was THE vet that figured out what was wrong)
If any of you still know her, her name is Korana LHF.
Have a very Merry Christmas,
Tish Stoots (there is more)
ps. RE: COSEQUIN: I see stuff about the Cosequin being cancelled. I
was not for the prize money.....but we sure should think first before
battering others and destroying events. There is so much work in
putting on a ride and the salary is pennies on the hour. One positive
thing that prize money does is draw public attention and maybe more
sponsors to our sport or riders or whatever...Perhaps we should have
that....if we could work together and figure out the best way for all of
us to move forward. It gets more people aware and interested. There
are fewer rides than in the past. This is a significant thought to
consider. I know that some of the people that were vehemently against
this ride had not ever done a ride or maybe have not managed a
ride....not trying to bruise feathers but instead of saying NO, NO, NO,
maybe we should say, HOW CAN WE HELP MAKE THIS AN ACCEPTABLE EVENT???
RE: THE FUTURE: I certainly know that when I have been bashed, it took
the wind out of me for wanting to contribute globally. You just want to
go to the rides and ride or back out of the sport because you are burnt
out. Some people NEED to be the leaders and we NEED to embrace that.
Thank you for reading this!
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