Re: RC: Re: DVE - Zay and Hawk

[DreamWeaver <nvrider@charter.net>]

At 02:16 PM 01/02/2002 -0500, Maggie Mieske wrote:
>!!  What does everyone think
>is the secret to keeping them so healthy and able to compete for all these
>years?  Just curious to hear everyone's ideas and thoughts on that...

It's not really a secret.  Mostly it's just using common sense and not 
beating the heck out of a horse for the first two or three seasons, or 
trying to race every single ride.   Lots of people don't have enough 
patience.  Because a horse *can* do something doesn't mean that it 
*should*.  I really hate seeing people taking a new horse or one that has 
only done a couple of rides on a multiday and running up in the front with 
it. It's sure a lot easier to go too fast than it is too slow and it's too 
bad more people don't err on the conservative side when they are starting 
out with a new horse.  If a horse is a good horse it'll still be good (or 
great!) after it has a thousand or more miles on it---if it's able to do 
well sooner then just think how good it really could have been.  I say have 
been because I see lots of horses ridden hard early in their careers 
because they can, and then where do they disappear to.....if they had been 
ridden more sensibly they would still be out there after a few thousand 
miles and going strong.  One of the juniors I rode with at Death Valley 
this year hit the nail on the head when she said that some riders only care 
about where they end up on the list (how they place).

Happy Trails,

Karen
in NV
& Rocky
& Weaver