----- Original Message -----
Hi Angie,
"Good Bone," are (IMHO) two words I usually hear
as the FIRST
description of an endurance horse, particularly when it
is an "endurance
rider" looking at the horse.
I am
not certain that THAT should be the first utterance from someone
looking
at a horse, nor the FIRST consideration. "A" consideration, but not
"THE" consideration.
*Hate to just do a "me too" post,
but I agree that maybe too much emphasis currently is put
on
cannon bone circumference.
Seems quality of bone is more important, as Frank said. In all
the
breed descriptions of Arabs, they
are described as a "fine-boned" breed, with hard, dense
bone.
Currently, I have been
accumulating larger and larger horses, as I am 6 ft. tall, and very long
legs.
I recently sold a just lovely
small Arab mare, 14.2, with the best disposition, who was fairly fine-boned,
purely because i felt her too small for me.
The three horses I ride now are a
big-boned Arab/walker, 15.1,; a stocky, also big boned Arab/mustang, 15h;; and
a 15.3 Anglo-Arab that is medium boned. They are all good horses, but
probably not as good recoveries as my original little
14 hand, fine boned Arab
mare.
What happened Sunday night was a
real wake-up call! I am currently boarding a little Arab mare for a 15
year old girl.
This is an extremely cute black
mare, wonderful Polish bloodlines, double Bask, but barely 14.2, slight build,
and very fine boned. ON the other hand, she is very well conformed and
well put-together. I took this girl riding, with me on the Anglo-arab,
who slugged along barely keeping up with the little Arab. On the way
down the hill, we switched horses. I could not believe how fast and
surefooted this little Arab mare walked downhill. She was quick, smooth
and balanced. From her back, she seemed a much larger horse. She
moved so well, and with such enthusiasm, that I purely enjoyed the ride, and
realized that she was the perfect Arab "type". I don't know we are
improving things much by breeding for extreme size or bigger
bone....
Also, I would appreciate comments
on what constitures good ARab conformation. I have seen photos of Arabs
for sale in California for big bucks ($15,000 to $35,000). To me, they
have just awful conformation, with their butts much higher than the withers,
and the hips too short. Is this what is winning at halter? I see,
at endurance rides, some extremely beautifully conformed Arab athletes, and
some really strange looking animals! Anyone care to
comment?
Karen