Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I think I'd like one put together well, like Heidi described -- you can 
tell that by watching them trot out. When I chose Chief, I led him --a late 
5 y/o and not yet gelded past all of the mares, trotted him out and checked 
his pulse -- low 30's, and his feet -- based on that, he went in my 
trailer! I also liked his eye, and how easy he was to catch, halter, lead, 
tie, stood patiently, etc.

I would choose a horse with good feet. It's just so much easier! I also 
want all black feet (I don't care what studies say otherwise) I also like a 
horse with a kind and gentle eye, a nice temperament and a personality that 
I can get along with. If given a choice, I would not want any white 
markings on the lower legs, or any pink skin -- I like dark skin 
underneath, less chance of scratches that way. Tho I wouldn't rule that out 
in a horse that was right in other ways, it's just that if I had a choice, 
I'd take the one I knew I'd have less stuff to manage. I'd also try to 
choose a horse that wasn't jumpy or spooky or a drama queen, and that had 
not been mishandled in any way. Oh, and like Truman, I wouldn't get a 3 
year old with the idea of having a good 50 mile horse at 5 -- I think 
waiting until they are older to get them going is better for them in the 
long run. They can still have a very long career even if they don't do 
their first endurance ride until 6 or 7. This is based upon seeing how much 
all of my Arabians have grown after they were 5+ years old, they just were 
not mature yet at 5. No sickle hocks. Some flaws are okay, depending on 
what they are and how the horse compensates. I also like a good eater and 
one that isn't 'herdbound'. My geldings all seem to have one goal in life 
-- and that is to eat, so they are always in a hurry to get to food, lol. 
Not sure just looking at a horse if you can tell if it is an 'easy keeper', 
but if you can look at the horses relatives you may be able to tell that. I 
think that may also be a trait that you can tell by a horses temperament 
and personality. Calm type versus wired.

Karen

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

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!!

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