Re: [RC] rider size vs. horse size/My Unlikely Find - erika p moore
John,
>many other breeds and types of horses will work for you in
endurance riding as well as trail riding. as for the size of the
horse, there is >no set formula.
I would have to second the motion of Ed (and the others out their).
My first horse was an endurance Arab...couldnt tell you what kind...I was
too much in love with him to care about pedigree. He was fairly large for
an arab and loved nothing more than to do what he was trained for. I
learned a great deal from him.
However, over the years, I have gained more experienced and purchased
my own horse for trail riding and competition and in the most unlikely of
horses. My Henry is a 17 hand TB/Clyde. He has the long, tall, lean
characteristics of the TB, but the size, coloring and personality of the
Clyde. I found him at a farm owned by a college where he was donated about
two years ago. A friend of mine (whom I trust implicitly) told me of this
horse that no one liked. He had acquired the reputation of the trouble
horse, the awkward horse, the mean horse, the BIG DUMB horse. You name it,
most of the people at this farm had a description for him. However,
no one's stories seem to match. They all seemed like excuses to me.
(Before I go any further...I should let you know...I am a small girl, petit
in every way, and barely 5'3". So you and I are kinda dealing with the
same problem, just at different ends of the spectrum. You are a larger man
and wondering if a small horse would be right for you. I wasnt sure if I
could have a horse that much bigger than myself. Could I handle him?
Should I look for a smaller horse? plus a hundred other questions)
I went up to see this horse anyway. I had no intentions of
making any deals, or hinting that I was looking for horse. I just wanted
to observe, perhaps ride. HA, the first day...Henry hauled me ALL over the
farm property! I dont even think he knew I was at the end of his lead
rope. I was unnerved with his constant nipping problem and the fact that
he didnt seem to care where his massive feet landed. But since I am not
one to be frightened away easily, by anything... I kept going back to see
him. I learned that the people who ride him...they come, throw the saddle
on, haul HIM around the ring, take the saddle off, then throw him back in his
stall, leaving him to wonder "what just happened?"
A few weeks went by and I kept visiting Henry. I got more and more
comfortable with him and (because I didnt ride every time I went to see him,
sometimes I would just take him out for walks or to graze, or just give him
treats and a grooming) he learned that I wasnt demanding anything of him.
His bad habits seemed to decrease a bit. And THEN came the day I took him
on our first trail ride. WOW! A complete and utter
transformation! He never once looked back at the barn, but kept his ears
perked and his stride lengthened. I havent seen a horse so happy to be out
on the trails. And it was the same with every trail ride I took him on
after that day. It was at those moments, seeing his large eyes take
everything in with such pleasure, and once in a while hearing him make sighs of
contentment - my heart melted and I knew he and I were a match.
I signed the papers, took him home and he never looked back when leaving
that farm.
When I go out to see him now, he comes running over to me (or to the apple
I happen to be hiding, but I would like to think its me). He has stopped
nipping. He stands without halter and lead rope for his groomings.
And while he may still be a bit goofy and forget I am at the end of his lead
rope, once I remind him he always says sorry with a big wet kiss.
Maybe its all very sappy and sentimental, but the point I am trying to make
is - never judge a horse by the rumors, the pedigree, the size, the breed.
Each is a wonderful individual and you might find your match in a 15h spindly
arab, or in a super sized cross breed. I think you are going to be better
off finding that match by just taking your time and not expecting the first
prize endurance horse you come across to be "the one". Also, endurance -
as many of the quotes state - is about that partnership and the fun in having
that partnership.
Henry was everyone elses dud, but he is my star. You can buy some one
else's star endurance horse, but for you (and I mean this as NO crack at your
riding abilities)...it might just end up being a dud.
