Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

>  Pasos that have pasterns as vertical as a typical
> Arab or quarter horse are described as "posty-legged" because Pasos
> typically have less vertical pasterns (which contributes to the smoothness
> of the ride).
>
> All this is to say that going down steep hills, such as are common in
> endurance rides, is particularly hard on the Paso. As a lover of the breed,
> I hate to see people riding them hard down steep hills. I lead mine down
> steep hills because I wish to protect their suspensories.
>
> Mike Sherrell

Post legged in a Paso, just like in any other breed, does not refer 
to the pasterns -- it refers to lack of angulation through the hock 
joint, also called "straight behind".  It's a conformation that might 
be somewhat desireable in a jumping horse or a racing thoroughbred, 
but is a fault in a Paso.
(PS -- smoothness of gait, just like with any gaited horse, comes 
from the footfall timing, not weak suspensories).

A Paso with good  angulation in the hocks can handle hills just fine. 
I don't like to see people pushing *any* horse hard down steep hills, 
especially with a rider's weight on their back, but lord knows my 
pasos and I have done plenty of hills (at a brisk walk <g>) in the 
course of 55 NATRC rides and a handful of LDs.


--


Lynn Kinsky, Santa Ynez, CA
http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky/
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