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Re: [RC] endurance rider's - kazevedoQuoting Sisu West Ranch <ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx>: "...Bottom line is a quarter horse will never go like an Arabian and they need to be ridden differently due to their mass and cooling issues..." I agree 100% on the cooling issues, but there are QH's and there are QH's. Skeeter, who was speed QH, would routinely trot at 10 mph. His record was a 15 mile loop in an hour and 10 minutes or so. His overstriding trot was something else. I too have a fast-trotting QH (actually registered Paint), who is a retired ranch horse that we got as a 17 or 18 year old. He can out trot most of the arabians we've ridden with and prefers that speed. Because he is *very* thick- muscled (he's not built like a racing QH) he gets puffy and will never be blessed with a low heart rate throughout a ride like arabians. We definitely have to take rests throughout the ride even when he's in top shape. Though he would do it if he was asked, I wouldn't think of taking him on a 50, so we stick to 25s. I'm sure he would be able to, but it would be quite uncomfortable to be so huffy puffy the whole way through- it'd be kind of like a huge football player running a marathon- possible but not what he's cut out to do (that's just how I think of it, but I'm sure there are beefy QHs that have had endurance careers). Lori I read your post about rough trotting, and Robin has a very rough one too- I don't think it's quite as uncomfortable as that of the horse you're starting it sounds like. I haven't looked into ideas about how smooothen the trot, but I suppose if it is because he has a lot of impulsion (lots of up and down movement) you could work on lengthening it in the arena. Two is really young-- with time he might just figure it out by himself?? Because Robin is pretty much set in his ways after all his years my mom and I just tolerate the trot and *really* enjoy when he breaks into a canter. :) -Katie ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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