Ridecamp: [RC] questions re: breeding - mare age, genetics of grey, eastern endurance

A. Perez walkergirl@xxxxxxxxxx
  My next door neighbor has offered to sell me his 20 yo flea-bitten grey TB mare for $750. (pending prior offer being withdrwn).  She had a half-sire foal last year.  In general, how long can (until what age) mares be bred, assuming otherwise healthy?  Also, it is my understanding that grey is dominant (if one parent is grey, foal will always be grey): is this correct?  I worry about melamonas with greys.  I am consider breeding her to an arab for futrue enduance mount (maybe by the time the foal is reasy to be ridden, I'll have a trailer!

One last question: someone recently commented about how nice it was to go to a ride where the 50 mile ride did not require repeating trails.  Is this a reason why there are fewer endurance rides in the east - shortage of venues with miles of trails?  I would LOVE to see more rides close to the DC metro region; Doncaster ride is the nearest, followed by the Old Dominion.  How can this be accomplished?  Having not yet ridden in an endurance ride, I hardly feel qualified to start one on my own.  Lastly, what is the rarional behind the rule that LD rides must be held in conjunction with a non-LD ride (or am I mistaken)?

Thanks


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