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Re: [RC] concerns about small horse/not so small rider - heidiI wrote about this last year and got some encouraging email, but I'm still a little worried if this young horse will get big enough to tote my chubby self around! The horse in question is an all-CMK gelding currently age 3 years, 8 months. Last spring, I measured him at 13.3 hands and 700 lbs according to the weight tape. I know the weight tape may not be real accurate, but it's all I have to go by. Last week, he measured 14.1 hands and 770 lbs. He still LOOKS immature. His cannons circumference are somewhere between 7-1/4" and 7-1/2" (where exactly am I supposed to be measuring that?). His feet take size 00 shoes all the way around. His blanket size (mid chest around to mid tail) is 68". In contrast, my mature riding gelding, who has no trouble hauling my fat butt around, is 14.2hh, 875 lbs, 7-3/4" cannons, 72" blanket, 0 front shoes and 00 hinds. Your youngster is well on the way to being sufficiently stout, with those numbers at that age. His uncle grew a full inch from age 5 to age 6 while being campaigned by a HW rider. He will continue to gain substance until he is at least 7 or 8 as well. I seem to recall that the rider/tack weight should not be more than 25% of the horse's weight to avoid overstressing the horse, is that correct? I have not yet ridden him, will start this year, but I'm a little over that percentage. Susan G's Tevis studies show no measurable decline in ability to complete for as high as the rider weights went--somewhere between 31% and 32%. Conformation is a far more limiting factor than size--a horse with a poor back will not be able to carry a heavier rider no matter HOW much substance he has, but a reasonably-built horse that is otherwise suited for the sport (that is important!) will handle more than 25% of his body weight just fine. I really hate to sell him because he has loads of personality and is going to be a terrific trail horse -- I've ponied him lots of miles the past two years including some very tough mountain country (any other fools out there been up the Nye trail in the Oregon Steens?), he's very surefooted, has a real willing-to-go-conquer-the-trail attitude and a nice big trot. And unlike my other gelding this guy lets nothing get in the way of his eating and drinking, he'll suck down water every time it's offered, has drunk out of a plastic bag and even tries to drink out of my water bottle! I've hauled him 9 hours one way several times and he cleans out his hay bag during the trip and will drink IN the trailer on the road. And he's PRETTY, to boot, an eyecatching red rabicano roan with blaze and socks, and flaxen mane and tail. Sounds like he is well on the way to being a good endurance horse--just give him some time to grow up! Sounds like he would be fine to start lightly this fall and start doing some LSD work. So whaddaya'll think, will he get stouter in the next year...? Absolutely! Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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