Re: RC: Re: ragging on show horses (was backyard stallions)

[Lif Strand <fasterhorses@gilanet.com>]

At 09:37 AM 5/8/00 -0600, Michelle wrote:
> I would love it if my horse could go from
> local to regional to national class shows in halter.  I would HOPE
> it wouldn't mean I have been rewarded for having a horse with "long
> backs, long cannons, skinny necks" and "that
> flails around the ring like a crippled windmill".  Give me a
> break!!!

I am sorry to have to say that if you went to many regional shows and
certainly the nationals, and tried to pick out a horse from the top ten
halter class that you would risk taking on an endurance ride, you'd have
a hard time of it.  

I have amused my friends and acquaintances at these events by going to
the early classes and picking out which horses *won't* make the cut for
top 20.  It's really easy.  First you eliminate the nut
cases.  Then you start at the feet, working your way up the
body.  No fair looking at the horse's head or the handler's
hairdo.  If by the time you've gotten to the neck, you've found what
looks like a great endurance prospect, you can tell your friends that
THAT horse will be eliminated.  So far I have gotten so good that
I'm approaching 100% on my picks.  (I am terrible at picking which
horses might make the top 10 halter, on the other hand).

Now before anyone thinks I'm such a great judge of endurance
conformation, let me tell you that any nitwit could do the same with a
rudimentary knowledge of good endurance conformation.  You don't
have to try to pick National Endurance Champions, Tevis winners, WEC gold
medalists, just horses you think could stand up to a season's worth of 50
milers.  Lif

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