Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

It might be interesting to note that despite the fact that geldings
predominate as starters in endurance rides (even the Duck's rides) that
11 of the 13 Gold Medal XP horses (those that do all the XP rides with
the same rider in one year period) are mares (well, two of the 11 are
mares that have done it twice).  And one is a stallion.

Geldings are SIGNIFICANTLY under represented.

This gives some credence to the idea that mares might be better at
taking care of themselves and not allowing their riders to push them
beyond their ability to recover.

It may, however, also be explained by rider selection criteria (i.e. it
may be that doing this kind of effort is more interesting to people who
happen to like mares :)).

I suspect that there is plenty of statistical evidence to suggest that
mares are more successful pioneer horses (although this may not be
because mares make better pioneer horses but rather because people who
like to ride mares make better pioneer riders).

There is definitely a mind set that goes with people who like mares, so
going out and getting a mare if you don't like them isn't neccessarily
going to make you a more successful pioneer rider....especially since
pioneer riders have to spend LOTS of time with their horses :).

Personally, I have never seen the attraction of geldings.  They are
completely uninteresting to me....but then, my preference is for a
stallion :).

kat
Orange County, Calif.



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=