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    Re: [RC] What else do you do with your horse? - Heidi Smith


    > Aside from endurance, what do you do with your horse? How do these other
    > disciplines help you condition or compete in endurance? Are top level
    endurance
    > horses limited in their performance in other disciplines (for example,
    jumping
    > or dressage)? I've always been curious because of the difference in
    > conformation between the superior athletes in different sports.
    
    We fiddle with dressage, work cows, sometimes help 4-H or pre-4-H kids learn
    to ride, pack once in awhile, whatever.  Dressage and endurance are both
    "basic" disciplines--they both improve horses for other sports.
    
    As to differences in conformation--there are different faults that may be
    more tolerable in one sport than another, but GOOD conformation does not
    vary.  The basic proportionate three-circle horse is something that is an
    advantage in virtually any sport, because balance is necessary to ALL
    athletic endeavors.  A correct neck should be able to be up or down, and
    should be able to telescope outward, regardless of discipline.  A correct
    hip has some angulation, regardless of the style of croup that is
    top-dressing over the top of it.  The laws of physics apply, no matter
    what--pure and simple.  Faults such as long cannons are less tolerable when
    one has to have the ultimate in speed or efficiency, but may be tolerable in
    horses whose work load is minimal and who are only judged on "style"--being
    tolerable does not mean they are to be sought after, and that is also the
    case with many other faults in many other disciplines.  Horses "get by" with
    particular faults, so then people seek out horses that look like that,
    thinking that is the norm for the sport, when indeed, the horse would do
    even better if he were built properly.
    
    Heidi
    
    
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    Replies
    [RC] What else do you do with your horse?, Tamara Murray