Re: Conditioning young horse?

[owens <owensall@sierranet.net>]

David Leon wrote:
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: marilyn wiese <mwiese@gte.net>
> To: ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> Date: Friday, April 10, 1998 6:07 PM
> Subject: re: Conditioning young horse?
> 
> >>>>>Anastasia Hurley wrote: I have a question about the early
> >conditioning of my new young horse.....How do you all start work with
> >your young horses aimed for endurance?....What I am interested in is the
> >work portion. Reply off list so as not to clog. >>
> >
> >Please reply to the list or else please copy to me, because I am very
> >interested in what folks have to advice concerning conditioning a young
> >horse.
> >
> >Thanks, Marilyn in San Angelo, TX
> >mwiese@earthling.net
> >
> >
> >I also have a 2 year old to train and and want to take it slow and easy on
> him. We are also new to endurance racing. I also need info on mares. If they
> become pregnant how far along can they be before they should not be entered
> into  a race?
> Thanx DEDE Leon Hahira GA
> dleon@surfsouth.com
Dear David;
Please refer to an article this month by Donna Snyder Smith in the
Endurance News.  She talks about starting young horses, and how much
they are harmed by starting them too young.  Especially if yours is
arabian, remember she's not fully mature until around age 7(this has
been my experience) so starting her young is not in her best interest. 
If you like this horse, and want her to be the best she can be, don't
ride her until at least 3, preferably 4 years old.  You aren't missing
anything!  
The thoroughbred world races their babies at age 2. They have cripples
by age 5.  Think about it.
Katee