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Re: [RC] Saddle horse - heidiGenetics is an amazing science. I am constantly surprised by the Standardbred's calm, willing intelligence. Here is another horse bred for nothing but speed (at the trot, yes, but speed nonetheless). The breeding for a "standard" speed or better has been supremely successful - this is the WORLD'S premier trotter. And yet I have never met or owned one who was not calm, willing, gentle, and intelligent - almost the opposite of what TB's have made us think of when we hear "race horse." I know there was a long thread here recently regarding StdBreds, so I won't belabor the point. Just an observation that throws a weird kink into the whole "bred for one purpose" arguement! Breeding these horses for a fast trot has somehow made them INCREDIBLE trail mounts. They have a few advantages over the TBs in the sense that they have to undergo a lot more "stuff" at the race track (read selection for disposition here) than runners do, and they also run multiple heats in a single day, so they have tended to more consistently retain the ability to go all day. That said, the STDBD still has issues as a saddle horse--many individuals have issues with back flexibility, and they do have a tendency to be one-gaited, which can be an issue on some types of trails. So the specialization rears its head in this breed as well--even though they do often make good saddle horses. And because of the specialization, you do still need to pick your individuals. (That said, IMO the STDBD still likely has more suitable individuals for hard riding than many breeds do.) 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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