Everything I have read in Horse literature says that the horses that tend to stay sound longest are between 14 and 15 hand horses. They say after 16 hands the soundness curve drops. Of course ,maybe the disciplines who use 16 hands and above or the training may be at the cause. Anyone else heard of this research? And is it about proportions? I know of a 15.31/2 arab nearby, who has to wear special built up aluminum shoes to stay sound and the thing I noticed was how long this horses cannon bones and legs were. 14 hand body on 16 hand legs. ----- Original Message ----- From: Joe Long Sent: Saturday, September 07, 2002 4:58 AM To: woa@xxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] Weight of horse compared to rider I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings -- but I do not agree that
Arabians can be bred taller without losing the athleticism and stamina
that is so fundamental a part of the Arabian breed. Beauty is, of
course, in the eye of the beholder.
Yes, humans have been getting larger ... but at a cost. How many
6-foot marathon Champions have you seen? How many 6-foot figure
skaters or gymnastics Champions? Only in sports where sheer bulk or
height is a part of the game (like football and basketball) is "big"
an advantage for humans either.
Sorry, but IMO it is damaging to the breed that the genes of
overly-tall "Arabians" are being perpetuated.
On Fri, 06 Sep 2002 22:34:05 -0700, Bette Lamore <woa@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
>Hi Joe
>Perhaps you wouldn't feel the same way if you were way over 6 feet but
>still liked the Arabian athletic ability and wonderful disposition and
>intelligence. Sure, my husband could go out and get a Warmblood or
>thoroughbred (or a camel)--- but he happens to LOVE the Arabian spirit.
>You need not give up quality and type to have size---- nor must you give
>up athletic ability and beauty. If you have any doubt about this, visit
>my web site and ask to see Halynov's video. There are other tall Arabian
>horses out there as well--- some better than others, of course, just as
>some smaller Arabs are better than others.
>Mankind has evolved and is much taller as a whole (did you ever see the
>old clothes in museums--- look like my kid's clothes)--- why shouldn't
>their mounts evolve as well. I never bash the CMK breed, which can be on
>the small side on the average (and I own a smaller CMK stallion whom I
>cross onto Halynov's daughters, very successfully-- and still do not
>lose size) but I find it interesting that it is frequently a CMK breeder
>who bashes the taller horses (not all--- some of my best friends.... ;-) )
>I believe there is room in the breed for ALL sizes so long as quality is
>not sacrificed. After all, not all of us can fit into a size 7 pair of
>pants ;-)
>Have a nice evening!
>Bette
>
>Joe Long wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 06 Sep 2002 11:54:02 -0700, Bette Lamore <woa@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>So I am saying that IMHO that horse is too small for that man. I know
>>>Heidi doesn't like me bringing this subject up again (we have had our
>>>differences in the past re: BIG Arabs--- me standing a 16.2 Purebred
>>>Arab stallion put me in the pro position with her breeding her smaller
>>>Arabs putting her in the con position) BUT, I'll tell you my husband
>>>feels MUCH more comfortable on his 16h Arabian gelding and feels he is
>>>pushing the envelope when he is on anything smaller than a 15.2h horse.
>>>I guess it is partly a matter of personal preference and then maybe
>>>someone should ask the horse! ;-)
>>>
>>
>> Just as breeders can produce "toy" dogs and miniature horses, it is
>> possible to breed outlandishly tall Arabians. I think it's sad,
>> though, that the American obsession with "bigger is better" is
>> producing such animals. I sure wouldn't recommend such an outsized
>> horse to anyone to use in endurance, though. The Arabs knew what they
>> were doing when over thousands of years they bred those compact,
>> athletic, beautiful horses. If they wanted something tall, there were
>> always camels.
>>
>> That's my two cents on it.
>>
>>
>>
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--
Joe Long
jlong@xxxxxxxx
http://www.rnbw.com
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