Re: RC: Do slow, young horses ever speed up?

[DreamWeaver <nvrider@charter.net>]

At 07:25 PM 12/23/01 -0800, you wrote:
>Believe me, I am appreciating her laid-back qualities, but
>also just wonder if she is not going to enjoy this sport.  So, those of you
>with lots of experience bringing babies along.....does this change?

Well, I don't have lots of experience, but I did start both of my horses 
from youngsters. Weaver was always really laid back (he still is for the 
most part).  I have had several people tell me that he wasn't going to make 
an endurance horse that he was too "lazy".  I even had it suggested that he 
must be anemic (and I should have him tested) because it wasn't right for 
him to be so laid back.  In truth, it just took a lot longer (i.e, 
farther!) for him to really get in to it.  I can still pony him, which I 
often do -- and there are days where he thinks he's a 1000 pound anchor and 
even though he is my fastest trotting horse he will refuse to trot out, 
absolutely insists on stopping to poop and if he wants to stop and eat, he 
does.  Sometimes he'll act like going up a little hill is going to kill 
him, and if he doesn't get to eat he'll fall over any second from 
starvation.  :+D  (he only gets away with it cuz the other horse stops so 
quick)

I would take your horse to a few rides before deciding.  I have seen some 
horses that don't change, and others that have dual-personalities <G>.  I 
like the calm laid back attitudes, they take good care of themselves.  I 
think that once they realize what is going on, they sort of wake up and get 
with the program.  Mine gets bored with the same trails and loves going to 
new places and really likes doing point to point rides.

k
& Weaver, 4,770 miles
   (and I hear he's a cover-gelding <vbg>)