Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

Re: FW: [RC] Pasos in endurance - Lynn Kinsky

 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/ ============================================================ People in Alabama swear by manure tea as an herbal remedy for colds. ~ Lisa Redmond

ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/

============================================================