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[RC] re: any horse can do 25, etc. - Cindy CollinsJust fyi-`When I say that any sound horse can do 25 miles, I am saying that physiologically, many of my friends who ride their horses regularly whether it be in dressage, eventing, trail riding, etc. could take their horses and walk, trot, (and canter a little) through a 25 mile ride within the 6 hour limit with no problems or harm to their horses. I am not talking about some "cowboy" pulling a fat horse, that hasn't been ridden in months, out of the pasture and "over and undering" the horse through a 25. One of the reason so many of us "old timers" detest 25 milers is because that's the type of behavior we believe 25 milers bring out in folks...it is because doing 25 miles is within the reach of almost any sound horse of any breed. There is something about bumping up the distance to 50 miles that becomes "endurance" and only a relatively few horses can go that distance. (Remember, we're around endurance horses constantly and we get a skewed view of horse flesh...our horses are exceptional at distance). So, some local yokel is less likely to try a 50, but may try a 25 miler on a whim with no education or preparation. Getting angry at folks for stating the truth is silly. But, most of our arguments here are just that! Cindy ============================================================ We are talking about all the tools we can use to keep our horses safe and alive at the rides. Training/conditioning is one of the best tools available. It makes us better horseman and women, it benefits our horses and could quite possibly be the key to preventing most crashes. ~ Lisa Salas - The Odd Farm ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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