Re: RC: XP 2001

[Truman Prevatt <tprevatt@mindspring.com>]

There are probably a lot of factors - luck being one. In general though  the
gaited breeds ,here I'm referring to the Icelandic, were developed to cover
ground in an efficient manner to both the rider and horse at moderate speeds (
a 5 hour 50 is not a moderate speed where a 10 hour 50 is).  Of course the
showring has ruined some of that in some lines.

This is true for all the gaited breeds, TWH, saddlebred, Foxtrotter,
Icelandics, etc. Also their gait produces less concussion on the horses legs
than does a trot. Most have a plain old flatfooted walk faster than a trotting
horse, which comes into play in somthing like the XP.

So some may be the competition was more geared to the strengthes of the gaited
breeds more so than one day 50 mile races.

Truman



guest@endurance.net wrote:

> Kim dogtownxpress@aol.com
> I have enjoyed reading the articles on the XP 2001 in EN over the past
> couple months.  I find it very interesting that the two horses that were
> able to complete the most miles were not Arabs or Arab crosses.  As a
> topic of discussion, I would be curious to know why an Icelandic and a
> Mustang completed SEVERAL more miles (days) than any Arab yet I would
> guess that 90% of the horses entered were of Arabian blood.  I assume that
> many people riding Arabians wanted to complete more days.  Could it be
> that  the Mustang and Icelandic are exceptional specimans of their breed
> (were the Arabs entered not exceptional individuals) or is there something
> that that the non Arab breeds have that allowed them to excel at a this
> type of competition (2000 mile ride)?  I don't believe that the "speed"
> factor is the issue because many of the Arab bred horses must have been
> being ridden at the same speed as the non Arabs yet they were not able to
> complete as many miles. Is it the human factor?  Were the riders of the
> non Arabs better horseman than the riders of the Arab bred horses? I doubt
> that as I personally know many of the Arabian riders who entered the ZP
> 2001 and respect their ability as distance riders.
>    I think this would be an interesting topic to discuss and investigate
> BUT I don't want to start any flaming!  I ride and own only Arabs/Arab
> crosses so I am not promoting one breed over another - I am just curious
> :)
>
> Kim
>
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